Chess Puzzle #5lPLM — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1407 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks a1/d1; bishop g2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d5/e6/f2. Black: king g7; queen d7; rooks h5/h8; bishop f3; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd7 — pawn e6→d7, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h5→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh1 (bishop g2→h1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxh1# — rook h8→h1, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7r/pp1q1pk1/1n1pP1p1/2pP3r/5Q2/2N2b2/PP3PB1/R2R2K1 w - - 0 24

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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