Chess Puzzle #390j9 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1251 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen a8; rook a1; bishop d2; knights b5/f3; pawns a2/b2/e5/f4/g3/h2. Black: king e7; queen c2; rook h8; bishop f8; knights d8/e3; pawns b6/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh3 — king g2→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf5+ — queen c2→f5, gives check. Opponent replies g4 (pawn g3→g4).
  3. Best move: Qxg4# — queen f5→g4, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: Q2n1b1r/2p1kppp/1p6/1N2P3/5P2/4nNP1/PPqB2KP/R7 w - - 2 24

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