Chess Puzzle #1ErE9 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1163 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, opening, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e2; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b2/d2/f2/g2. Black: king e8; queen h5; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights e5/g4; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng3 — knight e4→g3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh2# — queen h5→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, opening, short. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/pp3ppp/4p3/4n2q/4N1n1/5N2/PP1PBPP1/R1BQ1RK1 w kq - 2 12

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