Chess Puzzle #2TWW2 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c2/g5; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/e4/f4/h3. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishop d4; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/f7/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d3→d4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen d7→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
  3. Best move: Qg3# — queen h3→g3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp1q1pp1/2pp2n1/6B1/3bPP2/2NQ3P/PPB4K/R4R2 w kq - 0 18

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