Chess Puzzle #4fZSj — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1260 · Intermediate · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks a1/d1; bishop c2; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/h4; bishops d3/f2; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf7 — queen h5→f7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook h4→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king h1→h2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh4# — queen d8→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q3k/pp4p1/2p4p/4P2Q/7r/P1Nb4/1PB2bPP/R2R3K w - - 2 24

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