Chess Puzzle #4kCo8 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1411 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c3; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; pawns a2/b2/c4/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/d8; bishop g4; pawns a6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h3 — pawn h2→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen e7→h4, gives check. Opponent replies g3 (pawn g2→g3).
  3. Best move: Qxg3# — queen h4→g3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/4qppp/p7/8/2P3b1/2Q1P3/PP4PP/R3KB1R w KQ - 3 18

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