Chess Puzzle #22YF4 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1215 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h3; queen f2; rook e1; knights c3/h4; pawns a2/b2/d4/f6/h5. Black: king d8; queen d6; rook g8; bishop h7; knight f5; pawns a6/b7/d5/f7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf5 — knight h4→f5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf5+ — bishop h7→f5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf5 (queen f2→f5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qg3# — queen d6→g3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3k2r1/1p3p1b/p2q1P1p/3p1n1P/3P3N/2N4K/PP3Q2/4R3 w - - 4 29

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