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

Rating 1410 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c1/d1; bishop b2; knights c3/g3; pawns a3/b3/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks c8/e8; bishop b8; knights d7/h5; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh5 — knight g3→h5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen d6→h2, captures pawn, 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: 1br1r1k1/pp1n1pp1/2pq2p1/3p3n/8/PPN1P1N1/1B2QPPP/2RR2K1 w - - 6 21

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