Chess Puzzle #1W5g3 — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1287 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c4/d2; knights c3/g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f5/g5/h2. Black: king e8; queen d6; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/h7; knights b8/g4; pawns a7/b7/c6/e7/f7/g7/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h3 — pawn h2→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen d6→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king e1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qf2# — queen g3→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, opening, short. The combination ends with Qf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn2kb1r/pp2pppb/2pq4/5PPp/2B3n1/2NP4/PPPB3P/R2QK1NR w KQkq - 1 12

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