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

Rating 1437 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen g6; rooks a1/h1; bishop e6; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/d6; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king g8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h1→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen g6→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/pp2n1p1/3bB1Qp/8/3PN3/2P3P1/PP3PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 0 16

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