Chess Puzzle #2oHlf — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1245 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops d3/e3; knights f3/g3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/e4/f2. Black: king e8; queen h3; rooks a8/h8; bishop e7; knights g4/h4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bf1 — bishop d3→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight h4→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen d1→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh2# — queen h3→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/ppp1bppp/3p4/3Pp3/2P1P1nn/3BBNNq/PP3P2/R2QR1K1 w kq - 4 15

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