Chess Puzzle #1zEM4 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1157 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks d5/f1; bishop g2; knight b7; pawns a2/b3/f2/g3. Black: king g7; queen f6; rooks f8/h4; knight e2; pawns a7/d3/f7/g6/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh4 — pawn g3→h4, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh4+ — queen f6→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bh3 (bishop g2→h3).
  3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen h4→h3, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/pN3pk1/5qp1/3R3p/7r/1P1p2P1/P2QnPB1/5R1K w - - 0 30

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