Chess Puzzle #2px31 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1276 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops b2/d3; knight c5; pawns a4/b4/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks b8/e8; bishops c8/d6; knight e4; pawns a6/b5/d5/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh5 — queen d1→h5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bh2+ — bishop d6→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Nd2# — knight e4→d2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nd2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1rb1r1k1/2q3pp/p2b4/1pNp1p2/PP1Pn3/3B3P/1B3PP1/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 20

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