Chess Puzzle #JrEx5 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1435 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/c4; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen g5; rooks a8/g8; bishop g7; knight a5; pawns a7/b5/c6/d6/f4/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa5 — queen a4→a5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bd4+ — bishop g7→d4, gives check. Opponent replies cxd4 (pawn c3→d4, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen g5→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4kr1/p5bp/2pp4/np4q1/Q1B1Pp2/2P5/PP4PP/RNB2RK1 w - - 0 14

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