Chess Puzzle #2Aa41 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1389 · Intermediate · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks a1/g4; bishops d3/e3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/f5/h3. Black: king h8; queen f2; rooks a8/g8; bishop c7; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe3 — queen f2→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h5→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh4# — rook g4→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5rk/ppb2ppp/1np2p2/5P1Q/5PR1/3BB2P/PPP2q2/R6K b - - 3 20

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