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

Rating 1584 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c2; queen b6; rooks e5/h1; knight a3; pawns a2/b2/h4. Black: king e7; queen h6; rook a8; knights e6/f5; pawns a6/b5/c3/d5/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf5 — rook e5→f5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd2+ — queen h6→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c2→b1).
  3. Best move: Qxb2# — queen d2→b2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/4k1p1/pQ2n2q/1p1pRn2/7P/N1p5/PPK5/7R w - - 1 30

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