Chess Puzzle #0X99s — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 607 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g3; queen h2; rooks h1/h3; bishop c2; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/d4/f3/g4/g6. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks c8/e8; bishops e6/g7; knight f8; pawns b5/d5/d6/f6/g5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen a5→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh8 (bishop g7→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh8# — queen h2→h8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1rnk1/6b1/3pbpP1/qp1p2p1/3P2P1/1PN2PKR/P1B4Q/7R b - - 8 30

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