Chess Puzzle #0X3j7 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 915 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; pawns a3/b2/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks f8/h5; knight f4; pawns b5/e6/f7/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exf4 — pawn e3→f4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen f5→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king g2→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxh2# — queen h3→h2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5pp1/4p3/1p3q1r/5n2/P3PQP1/1P3PKP/R1B2R2 w - - 7 26

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