Chess Puzzle #Gd3uC — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f4; rook e1; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/c2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook f6; bishop d5; pawns a7/c5/c6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf6 — queen f4→f6, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen d7→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen h3→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p2q4/2p2r1p/2pb4/5Q2/1PN4P/P1P3P1/4R2K w - - 0 30

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