Chess Puzzle #3nTW2 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1232 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e1; rooks a1/f1; bishop f3; pawns a3/b2/c4/e3/g2. Black: king c8; queen c7; rooks g3/h3; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh3 — pawn g2→h3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook g3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qh2# — queen c7→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/ppq2pp1/5np1/8/2P5/P3PBrr/1P4P1/R3QR1K w - - 0 25

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