Chess Puzzle #1wBi9 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1189 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rooks a1/f1; bishops b3/e3; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/e8; bishops d6/e4; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight d2→e4, captures bishop. 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, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp3ppp/2pb4/4n3/4b2q/1BQ1B3/PPPN1PPP/R4RK1 w - - 12 16

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