Chess Puzzle #09krd — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1441 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c4; rook d4; bishop f6; knight a2; pawns a4/b3/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen c8; rook f8; bishops c6/f4; pawns a6/b7/f7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf4 — rook d4→f4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen c8→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen h3→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2q2rk1/1p3p2/p1b2B1p/8/P1QR1b2/1P6/N4PP1/7K w - - 3 26

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