Chess Puzzle #1p58e — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1090 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, opening, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a5; rooks a1/f1; bishops b3/c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen h4; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/d6; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/f5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen a5→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh2# — queen h4→h2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, opening, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/pp4p1/3b3p/Q3np2/7q/1B6/PPP2PPP/RNB2RK1 w kq - 3 14

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