Chess Puzzle #4gDuN — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1283 · Intermediate · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen g4; rooks g1/h5; bishop e3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/f6/h2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks a8/e8; bishop d6; knight e6; pawns a7/b7/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook e8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h5→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh4# — queen g4→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r2k/ppq2p1p/3bnP2/7R/6Q1/4B3/PPP2P1P/2K3R1 b - - 6 24

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