Chess Puzzle #7oRE2 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1496 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen b6; rook e7; pawns a3/b3/f3/g3/h3. Black: king a8; queen f4; rook h1; bishop b7; pawns a6/b5/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh1 — king h2→h1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen f4→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qg2# — queen f3→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: k7/1b2R3/pQ4p1/1p6/5q2/PP3PPP/7K/7r w - - 1 44

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.