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

Rating 1245 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rook a1; bishop g2; pawns b5/c2/d3/f5/g4. Black: king h8; queen f2; bishops c5/d7; pawns a5/e4/h6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen f2→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Bh3 (bishop g2→h3).
  3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen h4→h3, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/3b1Q2/7p/pPb2P2/4p1P1/3P4/2P2qB1/R5K1 w - - 0 36

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