Chess Puzzle #7cEnL — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1542 · Intermediate · attraction, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king d3; queen d5; rook h5; pawns b2/b3/c2/e4/f6/h3. Black: king h8; queen g2; rook d8; pawns a6/b4/c5/d6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook d8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h5→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh5# — queen d5→h5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/5p1p/p2p1P2/2pQ3R/1p2P3/1P1K3P/1PP3q1/8 b - - 3 34

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