Chess Puzzle #2CLsP — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 851 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen h4; rooks a1/h3; knight g7; pawns a3/b2/d3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks a8/g8; knight c2; pawns a6/b5/c5/d6/e5/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxg7 — rook g8→g7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rh7 (rook g7→h7).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h6→h7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5rk/2q2pN1/p2p3p/1pp1p3/4P2Q/P2P3R/1Pn2KPP/R7 b - - 0 26

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