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

Rating 1074 · Beginner · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen d1; rooks g1/g2; knight f7; pawns d5/e4/f2/h4. Black: king h6; queen b5; rooks c1/f8; bishop d6; knight d3; pawns c7/d4/e5/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg6+ — rook g2→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h6→h7).
  3. Best move: Qxh5# — queen d1→h5, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/2p2N2/3b2pk/1q1Pp2p/3pP2P/3n4/3K1PR1/2rQ2R1 b - - 0 29

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