Chess Puzzle #4LBeq — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1124 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f7; rooks b1/h3; bishop b5; knights d2/g5; pawns a2/c2/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen a7; rooks a8/c8; bishop d7; knights c6/e7; pawns a5/b7/d5/e6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook c8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h3→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen f7→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1r4k/qp1bnQp1/2n1p2p/pB1pP1N1/5P2/7R/P1PN2PP/1R5K b - - 2 19

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