Chess Puzzle #EV7GW — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1555 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook g7; bishop b2; knight f5; pawns d3/f4/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen b5; rooks e2/e8; knight f6; pawns c5/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf6 — bishop b2→f6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qb1+ — queen b5→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Qc1 (queen d2→c1).
  3. Best move: Qxc1# — queen b1→c1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/6R1/5n1p/1qp2N2/5P2/3P2P1/1B1Qr2P/6K1 w - - 1 36

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