Chess Puzzle #1gTE8 — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 924 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/c2; knights d2/f3; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/e4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c7/c8; knights f4/h5; pawns a7/b4/c5/d6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh2 — king g2→h2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen d7→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
  3. Best move: Qg2# — queen h3→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/p1bq1pp1/3p3p/2pPp2n/1pP1Pn2/1P3NPP/P1BN1PK1/R1BQ3R w kq - 4 20

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