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

Rating 895 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop c4; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/g6/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishop f6; knight d4; pawns a6/d6/e5/f4/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc4 — rook c8→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen h5→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2rq1r1k/6p1/p2p1bP1/4p3/2Bn1p2/8/PP3PPP/R2QK2R b KQ - 0 20

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