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

Rating 1286 · Intermediate · kingside attack, master, mate, mate in 2, opening, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops d2/d3; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights d4/g4; pawns a6/b7/d7/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h3 — pawn h2→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight d4→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh2# — queen c7→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1b1kb1r/1pqp1pp1/p3p2p/8/3nP1n1/2NB1N2/PPPB1PPP/R2Q1RK1 w kq - 4 11

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