Chess Puzzle #M0O2S — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1426 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c3; rook c1; bishop b2; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/g3/h2. Black: king h7; queen f8; rook e6; bishops c5/g6; pawns a5/b6/d6/f5/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe6 — pawn d5→e6, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen f8→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf3 (queen c3→f3).
  3. Best move: Qxf3# — queen a8→f3, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5q2/7k/1p1pr1b1/p1bP1p1p/2P5/1PQ3P1/PB5P/2R4K w - - 0 36

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