Chess Puzzle #9iejV — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1491 · Intermediate · attack on f2/f7, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen b3; rooks d1/h1; bishop d3; knights d2/e4; pawns b4/c4/d5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/d4; knight f2; pawns a7/b7/e5/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf2 — knight e4→f2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen h6→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Be2 (bishop d3→e2).
  3. Best move: Qxf2# — queen e3→f2, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attack on f2/f7, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp4pp/7q/3Ppp2/1PPbN3/1Q1B3P/3N1nP1/3RK2R w K - 0 20

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