Chess Puzzle #1lHZ1 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1166 · Beginner · attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks e3/f1; bishop c4; pawns a2/c2/c3/f5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be8 — bishop d7→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h5→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh3+ — rook e3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Bh5 (bishop e8→h5).
  4. Best move: Rxh5# — rook h3→h5, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/pppbq1pp/5p2/4pP1Q/2B5/2P1R3/P1P3PP/5R1K b - - 7 26

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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