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

Rating 1319 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen h3; rook f6; knight g4; pawns a3/c3/d4/f2/g2. Black: king h7; queen b3; rooks g7/g8; knight a5; pawns a7/b6/c7/e6/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h6→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh5+ — queen h3→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh5 (pawn g6→h5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh6# — rook f6→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6r1/p1p3rk/1p2pRpp/n7/3P2N1/PqP4Q/5PPK/8 b - - 25 36

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