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

Rating 1124 · Beginner · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops b3/c1; knight b1; pawns b2/b5/c2/d3/f3/g2. Black: king g8; queen h2; rooks a8/f8; bishop e6; knight g4; pawns a6/c7/d5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf1 — king g1→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f1→e2).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen h1→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2p2ppp/p3b3/1P1p4/6n1/1B1P1P2/1PP3Pq/RNBQR1K1 w - - 1 17

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