Chess Puzzle #09x4v — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 936 · Beginner · hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen f5; rooks g1/h1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f3. Black: king h7; queen f6; rook c8; bishops b7/h4; pawns a7/b6/d5/f7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf5 — queen f6→f5, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh4+ — rook h1→h4, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qh5 (queen f5→h5).
  3. Best move: Rxh5# — rook h4→h5, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/pb3p1k/1p3q2/3p1Q2/3P3b/2N2P2/PP6/2K3RR b - - 0 24

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