Chess Puzzle #1h5Wr — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 733 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook d5; bishop g4; knight b5; pawns a3/c2/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king b8; queen b2; rook h8; knights c6/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/f6/g7/h4. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a6 — pawn a7→a6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d5→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd8 (knight c6→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen d3→d8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k4nr/ppp3p1/2n2p2/1N1R4/4P1Bp/P2Q2P1/1qP2P1P/6K1 b - - 3 22

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