Chess Puzzle #1N1xX — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 898 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; rooks f5/f7; knight d2; pawns a4/b5/c3/d4/g4/h3. Black: king h8; rooks g6/g8; bishop b6; knight a7; pawns a5/b7/c7/d5/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg4 — pawn h5→g4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh5+ — rook f5→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Rh6 (rook g6→h6).
  3. Best move: Rxh6# — rook h5→h6, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/npp2R2/1b4r1/pP1p1R1p/P2P2P1/2P4P/3N4/7K b - - 1 27

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