Chess Puzzle #1suQR — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1554 · Intermediate · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen g3; rooks g1/g7; bishop h2; pawns a2/b3/c2/d4/f2/f5. Black: king h8; queen h5; rooks a8/f8; knights c3/f4; pawns a7/b4/c6/d6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nce2 — knight c3→e2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh7+ — rook g7→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qg7# — queen g3→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/p4pR1/2pp3p/5P1q/1p1P1n2/1Pn3Q1/P1P2P1B/6RK b - - 2 27

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.