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

Rating 1150 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rook h3; bishop b2; knight g5; pawns a2/c4/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen c7; rook f8; bishops a6/h6; knight d7; pawns a7/b6/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king h7→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h3→h6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen f7→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/p1qn1Qpk/bp2p2b/4P1N1/2PP4/7R/PB4PP/6K1 b - - 8 26

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