Chess Puzzle #23kp2 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1235 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen e4; rooks d1/e1; pawns a3/b4/d5/e3/f2/g3. Black: king c8; queen h3; rooks f6/h8; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg1 — king g2→g1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh2+ — queen h3→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qxf2# — queen h2→f2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/pp3pp1/2p2r2/3P4/1P2Q3/P3P1Pq/5PK1/3RR3 w - - 5 26

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