Chess Puzzle #4Ds7t — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1231 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishops b2/g2; knight d7; pawns a3/b4/d3/e2/g3. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks a8/f8; bishop f2; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf8 — knight d7→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen g6→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Bh3 (bishop g2→h3).
  3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen h5→h3, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pppN2pp/2n3q1/3p4/1P6/P2P2P1/1B1QPbB1/R4R1K w - - 2 18

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