Chess Puzzle #53xEv — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1016 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks g3/h4; bishop d3; pawns a2/b3/c4/d4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen d6; rooks e8/g8; bishop e6; pawns a6/b7/c6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg3 — queen d6→g3, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen d2→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1rk/1p3pp1/p1pqb2p/8/2PP3R/1P1B2RP/P2Q2P1/6K1 b - - 6 34

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