Chess Puzzle #0ZOXu — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 999 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop b2; knights c3/c6; pawns a4/b5/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c7; knights c5/f6; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfd1 — rook f1→d1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen d6→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qh1# — queen h2→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p1b2ppp/1pNqpn2/1Pn5/P7/2N1P3/1B2QPPP/R4RK1 w - - 3 17

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