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

Rating 845 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks b1/f1; bishops c4/d2; knight f3; pawns a3/d4/g3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks h2/h6; bishop d7; knight b8; pawns b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh2 — knight f3→h2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg3+ — queen c7→g3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxh2# — queen g3→h2, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1n4k1/1pqb1ppp/2p4r/8/2BP4/P4NP1/3B3r/1R1Q1RK1 w - - 0 23

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