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

Rating 1267 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knights b1/f3; pawns a3/b4/c3/c5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights g4/h4; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h3 — pawn h2→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight h4→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh2# — queen c7→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/ppq2pp1/4p2p/2Pp4/1P4nn/P1P2N2/4QPPP/RNB2RK1 w kq - 4 15

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