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

Rating 1520 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen f4; rooks e1/f2; bishop c5; pawns a7/b4/c2/d3/e5/h3. Black: king a8; queen h6; rooks g2/h8; bishop e6; knight f5; pawns c7/d5/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxg2 — king h2→g2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen h6→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king g2→g1).
  3. Best move: Qh1# — queen h3→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: k6r/P1p2p2/4b1pq/2BpPn2/1P3Q2/3P3P/2P2RrK/4R3 w - - 0 30

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