Chess Puzzle #BAmfx — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1581 · Intermediate · attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c6; rooks a1/f1; bishop c4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f7/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f4; rooks d6/f8; bishop f2; pawns a7/c7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc7 — queen c6→c7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen f4→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king h1→h2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh6# — rook d6→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/p1p2Ppp/2Qr4/8/2B2q2/8/PPP2bPP/R4R1K w - - 1 20

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