Chess Puzzle #3OpsI — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1246 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rook a1; bishops d4/d5; pawns d3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h6; rook c2; bishop f4; knight f7; pawns b4/d7/f6/g5/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd7 — queen h3→d7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h6→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qh1# — queen h2→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/3p1n1p/5p1q/3B2p1/1p1BPb2/3P3Q/2r2PPP/R5K1 w - - 2 28

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