Chess Puzzle #9ae41 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · clearance, endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rook d3; bishop e4; pawns a4/b2/c2/f3/f5/g2/h3. Black: king b8; queen g7; rook g3; bishop e3; pawns a5/b7/c6/e5/f4/f6/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c3 — pawn c2→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook g3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qg1# — queen g7→g1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qg1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k6/1p4q1/2p2p1p/p3pP2/P3Bp2/3RbPrP/1PP1Q1P1/7K w - - 6 29

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