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

Rating 1587 · Intermediate · discovered attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; rooks c6/g1; bishop f3; pawns a2/b2/e3/e5/g4/h2. Black: king b8; queen h4; rooks d8/h8; bishop g6; pawns a7/b7/d6/f7/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg4 — pawn h5→g4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c6→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook d8→c8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxb7# — queen d5→b7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxb7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/pp3p2/2Rp2b1/3QP2p/6Pq/4PB2/PP5P/6RK b - - 0 21

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