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

Rating 1133 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; knight d2; pawns a2/b3/c2/c4/e4/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen g3; rooks a8/h8; bishop c5; knight g8; pawns a6/b5/d5/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd5 — pawn e4→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h8→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen g3→h3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k1nr/6p1/p7/1pbp4/2P1P3/1P4qP/P1PN2P1/R2Q1R1K w kq - 1 21

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