Chess Puzzle #4Qncq — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1013 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks d1/f1; pawns a2/b4/c3/f3/g2. Black: king h8; queen c5; rooks h3/h6; pawns a5/b5/c6/d6/e5/f4/g3. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh3 — pawn g2→h3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h6→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qh2 (queen d2→h2).
  3. Best move: Rxh2# — rook h3→h2, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/8/2pp3r/ppq1p3/1P3p2/2P2Ppr/P2Q2P1/3R1R1K w - - 0 32

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