Chess Puzzle #0qRr2 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1075 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks b1/f3; bishop e2; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/e5/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishop f2; pawns a6/b7/c5/e7/f7/g3/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd3 — queen d1→d3. 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 d7→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: r3k2r/1p1qpp2/p5p1/2pPP3/2P5/1P3RpP/P3BbP1/1R1Q3K w kq - 1 25

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