Chess Puzzle #2N85k — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1327 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e1; rooks b1/f3; knight d6; pawns a3/c2/e4/g2. Black: king h8; queen g4; rooks a8/f6; bishop b6; pawns a7/b7/c6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf6 — rook f3→f6, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen g4→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Qh4 (queen e1→h4).
  3. Best move: Qxh4# — queen h5→h4, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6k/pp5p/1bpN1r2/8/4P1q1/P4R2/2P3P1/1R2Q2K w - - 0 28

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