Chess Puzzle #8Axgi — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1422 · Intermediate · kingside attack, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks a1/f7; knight g5; pawns a2/c2/c3/d3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook a8; bishop d6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg5 — queen d8→g5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook f7→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Rh7# — rook g7→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q2k1/pp3Rp1/2nb2Qp/2p3N1/8/2PP4/P1P3PP/R5K1 b - - 4 20

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.