Chess Puzzle #3Kr09 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1136 · Beginner · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e2; pawns a2/b2/d2/d5/f3/h3. Black: king e8; queen h4; rooks a8/h8; bishop f2; knight c2; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc2 — queen d1→c2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen h4→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g2→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen g3→h3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/ppp2ppp/3p4/3Pp3/7q/5P1P/PPnPBbK1/R1BQ1R2 w kq - 0 14

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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