Chess Puzzle #1CZ6f — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 827 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks d1/d8; bishop e3; pawns a2/c3/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h3; rook a8; bishop e6; knight a5; pawns a7/b6/c5/e5/f7/g7/h4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook a8→d8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  3. Best move: Qh5# — queen e2→h5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2R2k1/p4pp1/1p2b3/n1p1p3/4P2p/2P1B1Pq/P3QP1P/3R3K b - - 1 27

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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