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

Rating 1145 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/e6; bishop c4; pawns a2/d3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a3/a7; bishop e7; knight d7; pawns b3/c5/d4/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxa2 — pawn b3→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook e6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen d2→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3q3k/r2nb1p1/4R2p/2p5/2Bp4/rp1P3P/P2Q1PP1/R5K1 b - - 2 31

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