Chess Puzzle #oiuBK — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2358 · Expert · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g3; queen b8; bishops a1/e2; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c1; bishop c8; knight d3; pawns a6/f6/g7/h4. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh4 — knight f3→h4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen c1→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Nf3 (knight h4→f3).
  3. Best move: Qf2# — queen e3→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1Qb1k3/6p1/p4p2/8/7p/1P1n1NK1/P3B1PP/B1q5 w - - 0 36

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