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

Rating 1061 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks a1/h3; bishop e6; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/g7; knight a6; pawns a7/b6/c5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d8→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h3→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh6 (bishop g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen g6→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r1k/pb4b1/np2B1Qp/2p1P3/3P4/7R/PP3PPP/RN4K1 b - - 0 18

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