Chess Puzzle #5GWWk — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1292 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen d4; rook b1; bishops b3/e3; pawns a2/c2/e4/f3/g2/h4. Black: king e8; queen e5; rook h8; bishop a6; knight h3; pawns a7/c6/d7/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh3 — pawn g2→h3, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh2+ — queen e5→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f2→e1).
  3. Best move: Qe2# — queen h2→e2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qe2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4k2r/p2ppp1p/b1p3p1/4q3/3QP2P/1B2BP1n/P1P2KP1/1R6 w k - 0 20

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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