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

Rating 1084 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d8; rooks f1/g1; bishop b1; pawns a3/c5/f3/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen g3; rooks e8/h5; bishop c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd3 — queen d8→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h5→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen g3→h3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3Qr2k/ppp3p1/2b4p/2P4r/8/P4PqP/6P1/1B3RRK w - - 11 34

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