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

Rating 1329 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen g5; rooks a1/g6; knight h4; pawns a2/b2/c4/d3/g2. Black: king h7; queen d7; rooks e2/f2; knight h6; pawns a6/b7/c5/d4/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg1 — rook a1→g1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen d7→h3, gives check. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh2# — rook f2→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/1p1q2pk/p5Rn/2p3Q1/2Pp3N/3P4/PP2rrP1/R6K w - - 2 27

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.