Chess Puzzle #3cvT0 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rook g1; pawns a2/b3/c4/f5/h7. Black: king f8; queen e4; bishop e5; pawns a3/b4/c5/d6/f7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg2 — queen h3→g2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen e4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Qh2 (queen g2→h2).
3. Best move: Qxh2# — queen h4→h2, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/5p1P/3p4/2p1bP2/1pP1q3/pP5Q/P7/6RK w - - 3 52

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