Chess Puzzle #4P0LX — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1221 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/d1; bishop d3; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishop d5; pawns a6/b5/e6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh5 — queen e2→h5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen b6→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen f2→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/6pp/pq2p3/1p1bN3/8/3B4/PP2QPPP/R2R2K1 w - - 1 22

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