Chess Puzzle #43VmJ — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1384 · Intermediate · endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; bishops d4/e2; pawns a4/b2/c3/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d6; bishops c7/e6; pawns a6/b5/e4/e7/f5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb5 — pawn a4→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh2+ — queen d6→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qh1# — queen h2→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2b1p2p/p2qb1p1/1p3p2/P2Bp3/2P1P2P/1PQ1BPP1/6K1 w - - 1 26

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