Chess Puzzle #3JFKx — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1267 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rook h3; bishop c2; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f6; rooks f7/g8; bishop d7; pawns a7/b6/c4/d5/e6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf4 — queen f6→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h5→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh7 (rook f7→h7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxh7# — rook h3→h7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/p2b1r1p/1p2pq2/3p3Q/2pP1P2/2P4R/PPBN2PP/6K1 b - - 6 25

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