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

Rating 1203 · Intermediate · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c1/e1; bishop d6; knight c3; pawns b6/c5/d4/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h7; queen h3; rooks f7/g8; bishop d7; knight h4; pawns b7/d5/e4/e6/g5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf1 — queen e2→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight h4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxh2# — queen h3→h2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 6r1/1p1b1r1k/1P1Bp2p/2Pp2p1/3Pp2n/2N1P1Pq/4QP1P/2R1R1K1 w - - 7 29

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