Chess Puzzle #2Bfx6 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1390 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f7; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; pawns a2/c2/c3/g2. Black: king h8; queen h4; rooks a8/h6; bishop h3; pawns a7/c6/d5/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh3 — pawn g2→h3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen h4→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qh2# — queen h3→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6k/p4Q1p/2p4r/3p2p1/7q/2PB3b/P1P3P1/R4R1K w - - 0 22

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