Chess Puzzle #1t0A6 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 948 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h1; rooks g1/h3; bishops a1/c4; knight f7; pawns a2/c2/e6/g4. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks c8/f8; bishops e8/g7; knight f6; pawns a5/b4/e5/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc4 — rook c8→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh8 (bishop g7→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh8# — queen h1→h8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1brk1/4qNb1/4Pnp1/p3p3/1pB3P1/7R/P1P5/B3K1RQ b - - 3 32

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