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

Rating 1394 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c4; bishop d2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f3/h2. Black: king e8; queen h3; bishop c5; knight h5; pawns a7/c6/c7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen c4→c5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng3+ — knight h5→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qf1# — queen h3→f1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short. The combination ends with Qf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4k3/p1p3pp/2p5/2b4n/2Q5/2NP1P1q/PPPB3P/7K w - - 0 22

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