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

Rating 1222 · Intermediate · attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d1; rooks g5/h5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f2/f4/h4. Black: king h7; queen d7; rooks a8/g8; knight h6; pawns a7/b7/d6/e4/f5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Raf8 — rook a8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h5→h6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh6 (king h7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh5# — queen d1→h5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r5r1/pp1q3k/3p3n/3P1pRR/4pP1P/8/PPP2P2/2KQ4 b - - 6 24

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