Chess Puzzle #5GST2 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1104 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks f1/h5; knight f6; pawns a2/b3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c3; rooks e2/f8; knight g5; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne4 — knight g5→e4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h5→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen f4→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: 5r1k/5pp1/p3pN1p/3p2nR/3P1Q2/1Pq4P/P3rPP1/5RK1 b - - 2 35

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