Chess Puzzle #ESKx4 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1453 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks c1/f2; pawns a4/b3/d5. Black: king g7; queen g3; rook h8; pawns a6/b7/e5/f4. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf1 — king g1→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h8→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f1→e2).
  3. Best move: Qe3# — queen g3→e3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qe3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7r/1p4k1/p3Q3/3Pp3/P4p2/1P4q1/5R2/2R3K1 w - - 0 46

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