Chess Puzzle #28zcq — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1182 · Beginner · deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen e7; rook e1; knight d4; pawns a4/c3/c6/f2/h3. Black: king h8; queen f6; rook d8; knight h5; pawns b6/c7/g3/g6/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg3 — pawn f2→g3, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf2+ — queen f6→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king h2→h1).
  3. Best move: Nxg3# — knight h5→g3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Nxg3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/2p1Q3/1pP2qpp/7n/P2N4/2P3pP/5P1K/4R3 w - - 0 30

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