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

Rating 1338 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks b1/d1; bishop b4; pawns a3/b2/c4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks d7/d8; bishop c7; pawns a7/b7/c6/e4/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd7 — rook d1→d7, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh2+ — queen e5→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qh1# — queen h2→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/ppbr1ppp/2p5/4q3/1BP1p3/P3P2P/1P2QPP1/1R1R2K1 w - - 3 21

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