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

Rating 1425 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen h6; rooks a1/g1; bishop d5; knight c3; pawns a4/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight d2; pawns a6/b7/c5/d6/e5/f7/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h4 — pawn h3→h4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf3+ — queen f6→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g2→h2).
  3. Best move: Qh3# — queen f3→h3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1p3p2/p2p1qpQ/2pBp3/P3P3/2NP3P/1PPn1PK1/R5R1 w - - 2 19

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