Chess Puzzle #5QfxH — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1152 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; rooks e1/f1; bishop f3; knight d4; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/g2. Black: king g7; rooks e8/h6; bishops e3/h3; pawns a6/b5/f4/g3/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh3 — pawn g2→h3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h6→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h1→g2).
  3. Best move: Rh2# — rook h3→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4r3/6kp/p6r/1p6/3N1p2/P2PbBpb/1PP3P1/4RR1K w - - 0 36

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