Chess Puzzle #0jN9j — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1312 · Intermediate · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks f1/h5; bishop e6; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop d2; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc3 — bishop d2→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h5→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh5# — queen g4→h5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/pp2q1pp/1np1B3/3p3R/3P2Q1/2N5/PP1b1PPP/5RK1 b - - 12 20

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