Chess Puzzle #RHQCC — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2071 · Expert · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks a1/g1; knight f6; pawns a3/b4/c2/d3/e5/f2/f3/h2. Black: king f8; queen e7; rooks a8/g6; bishops b6/b7; pawns a6/c6/c7/d7/e6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c5 — pawn c6→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen d2→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh6 (rook g6→h6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rg8# — rook g1→g8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4k2/1bppqp2/pbp1pNrp/4P3/1P6/P2P1P2/2PQ1P1P/R5RK b - - 4 20

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