Chess Puzzle #H3KM8 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1447 · Intermediate · endgame, fork, master, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen g2; rook f1; knight f7; pawns a2/b2/c3/h3. Black: king g8; queen e3; rook d5; bishop b8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen g2→d5, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen e3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qh2# — queen h3→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, fork, master, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1b4k1/pp3Np1/2n5/3r4/8/2P1q2P/PP4Q1/5R1K w - - 0 36

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