Chess Puzzle #4s3rQ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1183 · Beginner · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks e1/e8; pawns a2/b3/d3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook c6; bishop f8; knight e7; pawns a5/b7/c3/d5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf5 — knight e7→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook e8→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen d4→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4Rbk1/1pq1np1p/2r3p1/p2p4/3Q1P2/1PpP4/P5PP/4R1K1 b - - 5 30

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