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

Rating 1519 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c1; rooks a1/g5; bishop f1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d5/e4/f3/h4. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knight d7; pawns a7/b6/c5/d6/e5/f7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook f8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh5+ — rook g5→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king h7→g6).
  3. Best move: Qh6# — queen c1→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r2/pb1n1p1k/1p1p4/2pPp1Rp/4P2P/2P2P2/PP6/RNQ1KB2 b Q - 3 17

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