Chess Puzzle #3r0Qa — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1445 · Intermediate · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/h3; bishop c4; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/e4/g2. Black: king h8; queen f2; rooks a8/f8; knights c6/e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng6 — knight e7→g6. 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 d1→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: r4r1k/ppp1n1pp/2np4/4p3/2B1P3/2P4R/PP1N1qP1/R2Q3K b - - 1 17

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