Chess Puzzle #2PTUD — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 695 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rooks d1/f1; bishop b3; pawns b2/c2/e5/f2/f3/h4. Black: king c7; queen e7; rooks d8/g8; bishop h6; pawns a5/b5/d4/f4/f7/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf5 — queen h3→f5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh4+ — queen e7→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qh3 (queen f5→h3).
  3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen h4→h3, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r2r1/2k1qp2/7b/pp2P2p/3p1p1P/1B3P1Q/1PP2P2/3R1R1K w - - 2 25

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