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

Rating 1497 · Intermediate · deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rook a1; bishops c1/h1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c3/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen h3; rook h8; bishops f1/f8; knight g4; pawns a7/c7/d6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd2 — knight b1→d2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h3→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf1 (king g1→f1, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxh1# — queen h2→h1, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4kb1r/p1p2ppp/3p4/8/3Q2n1/2P3Pq/PP2PP1P/RNB2bKB w k - 3 13

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