Chess Puzzle #0Cnsq — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1330 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c3; rooks f1/g1; bishop d5; pawns a4/b4/c4/f4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen h5; rooks d2/e2; knight g7; pawns a7/b6/d6/f5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bf3 — bishop d5→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen h5→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh2# — rook e2→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/p5np/1p1p2p1/3B1p1q/PPP2P2/2Q4P/3rr1P1/5RRK w - - 1 41

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