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

Rating 1109 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks a1/h5; bishop b2; knight d2; pawns a2/b3/c2/d3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/g8; bishops e7/e8; knight e5; pawns a6/b5/c5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h5→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h3→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2qb1rk/4bppp/p7/1pp1n2R/8/1P1P3Q/PBPN2PP/R5K1 b - - 1 19

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