Chess Puzzle #7UckO — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1418 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/d2; bishops e2/e3; pawns a2/b2/c4/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks b8/h8; bishop g7; knight g4; pawns a6/b6/c5/e7/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rad1 — rook a1→d1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh2+ — queen c7→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qh1# — queen h2→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r2k2r/2q1ppb1/pp4p1/2p4p/2P1P1n1/1Q2B2P/PP1RBPP1/R5K1 w k - 3 19

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