Chess Puzzle #78ETH — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1459 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e1; rooks d1/f1; bishops e2/f4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/e4/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen e6; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/e7; knight f6; pawns a6/b6/c5/f7/g7/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e4→e5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen e6→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen h3→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4k1r/1b2bpp1/pp2qn2/2p4p/2P1PB2/2N4P/PP2B1P1/3RQR1K w - - 4 18

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