Chess Puzzle #1tQ0o — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1218 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f3 — pawn f2→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d8→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king e1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qf2# — queen h4→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2q1r2/pp3pkp/2p1p1p1/3p4/3Pn1P1/2PBP2P/PP3P2/R2QK2R w KQ - 0 14

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