Chess Puzzle #478gQ — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1055 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen g5; rooks a1/f1; bishop d5; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/f4/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishop c5; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe5 — pawn f4→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h8→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen d7→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: r4k1r/1ppq1p2/p1np4/2bBp1Q1/4PP2/P2P3P/1PP3P1/R4R1K w - - 3 24

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