Chess Puzzle #1dieV — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1262 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f4; rook g6; bishop c1; pawns a3/b4/c2/d3/e4/f5/g2/h4. Black: king h7; queen f7; rooks d8/g8; bishop c6; pawns a7/b7/d4/f6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook d8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen f4→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r2r1/pp3qpk/2b2pRp/5P2/1P1pPQ1P/P2P4/2P3P1/2B4K b - - 4 35

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