Chess Puzzle #4skV9 — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

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

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knights b1/f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c7; knights b6/h4; pawns a7/d5/e6/f6/g6/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen d3→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight h4→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh2# — queen d6→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p1b3p1/1n1qppp1/3p4/3P3n/2PQPN1P/PP3PP1/RNB2RK1 w - - 4 17

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