Chess Puzzle #1dF18 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1174 · Beginner · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f7; rooks c2/f1; bishop d5; knight e2; pawns a3/b5/e4/g2. Black: king d8; queen e3; rooks e8/h3; bishop e5; pawns a5/b6/c7/d7/f6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh3 — pawn g2→h3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen e3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qh2# — queen h3→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3kr3/2pp1Q2/1p3p2/pP1Bb3/4P3/P3q2r/2R1N1P1/5R1K w - - 0 30

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