Chess Puzzle #H5RVs — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1521 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h6; rooks f1/g5; bishop d3; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks a8/d8; bishops b7/e7; pawns a7/b6/c7/e6/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg5 — queen e5→g5, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/pbp1bp2/1p2p2Q/4q1R1/8/P1NB4/1PP3PP/5R1K b - - 0 20

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