Chess Puzzle #Elj8h — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1467 · Intermediate · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g2; queen h6; rooks f2/f4; bishop b1; pawns a2/b3/d5/e4/f6/g5/h3. Black: king h8; queen d4; rooks e5/g8; bishop b5; pawns a7/b6/c5/d6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe3 — queen d4→e3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh4# — rook f4→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/p4p1p/1p1p1PpQ/1bpPr1P1/3qPR2/1P5P/P4RK1/1B6 b - - 0 35

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