Chess Puzzle #3xmAV — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1103 · Beginner · endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen e4; rook f6; pawns a3/c2/d3/g2/g3/h4. Black: king h8; queen a2; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a4/b7/c6/e6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen a2→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook f6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen e4→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r1k/1p3p2/2p1pR1p/8/p3Q2P/P2P2P1/q1P3PK/8 b - - 0 23

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