Chess Puzzle #AewCd — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1539 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b2; rooks d1/d6; knight e2; pawns b4/c2/g2/h6. Black: king h8; queen e3; rook f8; bishop e4; pawns a6/b6/f5/f6/g4/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen e3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen h3→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/7p/pp1R1p1P/5p2/1P2b1p1/4q3/1QP1N1P1/3R2K1 w - - 0 29

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