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

Rating 959 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops b2/f3; knight c5; pawns a2/b3/c2/d3/f2/g2. Black: king c8; queen d6; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knights d4/g4; pawns a7/b7/e7/f7/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb7 — knight c5→b7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh2+ — queen d6→h2, 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: 2kr1b1r/pp2pp2/3q4/2N4p/3n2n1/1P1P1B2/PBP2PP1/R2QR1K1 w - - 1 16

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