Chess Puzzle #39EG2 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1529 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks b1/e3; bishop d3; pawns a4/c2/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks e8/f8; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/c5/e6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a4→a5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f6→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen f2→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/pb5p/1p2pqpQ/2p5/P1P5/3BR3/2P2PPP/1R4K1 w - - 0 22

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