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

Rating 1410 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks g6/h3; bishops d3/g7; pawns a4/b3/c4/e4/f5/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen e7; rooks f7/h8; bishops c6/f6; pawns a5/b6/d4/d6/e5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg7 — bishop f6→g7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh8+ — queen h5→h8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh8 (bishop g7→h8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxh8# — rook h3→h8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5k1r/4qrB1/1pbp1bR1/p3pP1Q/P1PpP3/1P1B3R/6PP/6K1 b - - 0 31

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