Chess Puzzle #I12YY — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1743 · Advanced · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h3; rooks a1/h1; bishops b2/f1; pawns a3/b3/d2/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops e4/f6; knight b8; pawns b5/c5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g5 — pawn g7→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh8 (bishop f6→h8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxh8# — rook h1→h8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: rn1q1rk1/5pp1/5b2/1pp5/4b3/PP5Q/1B1P1PP1/R3KB1R b KQ - 1 18

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