Chess Puzzle #L5BIE — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1467 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; pawns a6/c5/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; knight h4; pawns a7/b7/c6/f6/f7/g5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb7 — pawn a6→b7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight h4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh2# — queen c7→h2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6r/ppq2pk1/P1p2p2/2P3p1/3P3n/3BP3/2Q2PPP/R4RK1 w - - 1 23

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