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

Rating 1483 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen a4; rook e1; bishop g3; pawns a2/c2/c3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h7; rook b8; bishop b7; pawns a7/c5/c7/d6/f6/g5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa7 — queen a4→a7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen h7→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen h3→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/pbp4q/3p1p2/2p3p1/Q7/2P3BP/P1P3P1/4R2K w - - 6 27

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