Chess Puzzle #1eXA8 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1288 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks e1/f1; bishops e3/f3; pawns a3/b4/d4/f2. Black: king h8; queen h3; rooks b8/f8; bishop d6; knight g3; pawns b7/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bg2 — bishop f3→g2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight g3→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe2 (rook e1→e2, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh2# — queen h3→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1r3r1k/1p4pp/3b1p2/8/1P1P4/PQ2BBnq/5P2/4RRK1 w - - 0 24

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