Chess Puzzle #1hhx9 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1091 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e2; queen g3; rook g1; knight h6; pawns a2/b2/c3/e3/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; knight b8; pawns a7/b6/c7/d5/e4/f5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen d8→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg8+ — queen g3→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg8 (rook f8→g8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxg8# — rook g1→g8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn1q1r1k/p1p2p1p/1p5N/3p1p2/4p3/2P1P1Q1/PP2K2P/6R1 b - - 3 24

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