Chess Puzzle #0m9Qi — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 767 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks a1/f1; bishops c4/g5; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/g2/h4. Black: king b8; queen h5; rooks d8/h8; bishop b7; knight e2; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/g3. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh4+ — queen h5→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh4 (bishop g5→h4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxh4# — rook h8→h4, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/pbpp4/1p6/4Q1Bq/2B1P2P/3P2p1/PPPNn1P1/R4RK1 w - - 1 21

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