Chess Puzzle #2z4Lw — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1147 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h7; rooks c1/f4; bishop d2; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/e5/f6/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f8; rooks b8/g8; bishops b6/f5; pawns a6/b5/d4/d5/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king h8→h7, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh4+ — rook f4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Qh6 (queen f8→h6).
  3. Best move: Rxh6# — rook h4→h6, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r3qrk/5p1Q/pb3Pp1/1p1pPb2/3p1R2/1N6/PP1B2PP/2R3K1 b - - 0 26

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