Chess Puzzle #47M1a — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1086 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; rooks e1/f1; bishop e7; knight c4; pawns e4/g2/g6/h3. Black: king g7; queen c8; rooks b3/f8; bishop d4; knight a2; pawns a7/c5/f6/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd6 — knight c4→d6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook b3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen c8→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: 2q2r2/p3B1k1/5pPp/2pQ4/2NbP3/1r5P/n5P1/4RR1K w - - 1 36

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