Chess Puzzle #41Ax5 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1002 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks c1/f1; knight e2; pawns a3/b4/d2/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h3; rooks a8/e8; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight e2→f4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxh2# — queen h3→h2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/ppp3pp/8/4np2/1P2p3/P3P1Pq/2QPNP1P/2R2RK1 w - - 0 18

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