Chess Puzzle #2w1YU — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1219 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e7; rook h1; bishops b3/d4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f5; knight f7; pawns a7/b4/c6/d5/g4/g6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd8 — queen a5→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h1→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh8 (knight f7→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qg7# — queen e7→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p3Qn2/2p3p1/q2p1r2/1p1B2p1/1B1P4/PPP5/2K4R b - - 2 26

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