Chess Puzzle #LELNj — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1402 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, opening, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops b2/e2; knights a2/f3; pawns a4/b3/b5/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen c7; rooks d8/h8; bishops b7/b8; knights c6/g5; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc6 — pawn b5→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight g5→f3, captures knight, 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, opening, short. The combination ends with Qxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1bkr3r/1bq2ppp/p1n1p3/1P1p2n1/P7/1P2PN2/NB2BPPP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 1 17

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