Chess Puzzle #0kICu — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 948 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/g2; knights c3/e2; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/f5/h3. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks c8/g8; bishops c5/d7; knights c6/g4; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg4 — pawn h3→g4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d8→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Bh3 (bishop g2→h3).
  3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen h4→h3, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2rq2rk/1ppb1pp1/p1np3p/2b1pP2/4P1n1/P1NP3P/1PP1N1B1/R1BQ1R1K w - - 0 15

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