Chess Puzzle #0WheK — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1239 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen c2; rooks c1/f1; bishop b1; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/g2/g5. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/e8; bishop b7; knight g3; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen c7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen c2→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxf7# — rook f1→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/pbq2p2/1p2p2p/3pP1P1/8/2P3n1/PPQ3PK/1BR2R2 b - - 0 24

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