Chess Puzzle #2cm4i — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1175 · Beginner · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/h3; bishops e6/f4; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knights a6/d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf4 — rook f8→f4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh5# — queen e2→h5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r1k/pp1nb1pp/n1p1B3/8/5B2/P1N4R/1PP1Q1PP/R5K1 b - - 2 17

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