Chess Puzzle #1nQ5f — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1065 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; rooks g1/g2; bishop e3; knight h2; pawns a2/b2. Black: king h7; queen h3; rooks f2/h4; bishop e5; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf2 — bishop e3→f2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h3→h2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh2 (rook g2→h2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxh2# — rook h4→h2, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 8/ppp4k/2n3pp/3Qb3/7r/4B2q/PP3rRN/6RK w - - 0 27

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