Chess Puzzle #1LbOE — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1092 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks c1/g1; knight e5; pawns b3/d5. Black: king g7; queen f2; rooks a2/f8; bishop g2; pawns f4/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg2 — queen f3→g2, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen f2→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Qh2 (queen g2→h2).
  3. Best move: Rxh2# — rook a2→h2, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/5pk1/7p/3PN1p1/5p2/1P3Q2/r4qb1/2R3RK w - - 0 29

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