Chess Puzzle #5GcTB — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1574 · Intermediate · clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks f1/h5; bishop d3; pawns c2/f2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h5→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh8 (knight g6→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen h3→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/ppp1qpp1/4p1n1/7R/8/3B1P1Q/2P2P1P/5RK1 b - - 3 20

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