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

Rating 1156 · Beginner · deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen f3; rook f6; knight c6; pawns b2/c4/d5/g2. Black: king h5; queen h2; rook a8; bishop g3; pawns a4/a6/c5/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g4 — pawn g5→g4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf5+ — queen f3→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh4 (king h5→h4).
  3. Best move: Rxh6# — rook f6→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r7/8/p1N2R1p/2pP2pk/p1P5/5Qb1/1P4Pq/5K2 b - - 2 33

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