Chess Puzzle #88ZoW — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops g5/g6; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e6/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen d1→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen c7→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: r4b1r/ppqnk1p1/2p1pnB1/3p2B1/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RN1QR1K1 w - - 2 12

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