Chess Puzzle #1RK3N — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 669 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e5; rooks g2/g5; bishop d3; pawns a2/b4/c3/f2/f3/h2. Black: king g7; queen h7; rooks h6/h8; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f6/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe6 — queen e5→e6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook h6→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh2 (rook g2→h2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh2# — queen h7→h2, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7r/pp2n1kq/4pppr/3pQ1R1/1P6/2PB1P2/P4PRP/7K w - - 0 30

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