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

Rating 788 · Beginner · endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d1; rooks g1/h5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/f4/h4. Black: king h8; queen d6; rooks e7/e8; pawns a7/b6/c7/d5/f5/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh5 — pawn g6→h5, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh5+ — queen d1→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qh6 (queen d6→h6).
  3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h5→h6, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/p1p1rp2/1p1q2p1/3p1p1R/3P1P1P/8/PPP2P2/2KQ2R1 b - - 0 23

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