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

Rating 1485 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h3; queen d1; rooks b1/g1; bishops c2/e3; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/f3. Black: king e8; queen f6; rooks a8/g8; bishop f8; knight c6; pawns a6/b5/c7/d6/f7/g4/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh2 — king h3→h2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen f6→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h2→g2).
  3. Best move: Qh3# — queen h4→h3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3kbr1/2p2p2/p1np1q2/1p5p/4P1p1/4BP1K/PPBN1P2/1R1Q2R1 w q - 0 20

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