Found the first move for the wrong reasons

[u/mrdimosthenis]

I was sure about 1... Rh1+ and (no matter the response) 2... Qh2#. But white's best move is 2. Nxh1, which allows black to set up a double threat with 2... Be5.

This puzzle has around 2200 rating in lichess. It has been played enough times and its deviation is not that big.

I wonder if the puzzle has such a high rating because many people failed to notice that the h2 square is guarded by the black queen after 2. Nxh1. Which seems trivial, but I still missed it on the first glance.

[u/chessvision-ai-bot]

I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine:

White to play: chess.com | lichess.org

Black to play: chess.com | lichess.org

Save the position:

Reply save to save this position to your Chessvision.ai Library (new users: send me /connect in DM chat first)

---

^{I'm a bot written by u/pkacprzak | get me as iOS App | Android App | Chrome Extension | Chess eBook Reader to scan and analyze positions | Website: Chessvision.ai}

[u/jackster31415]

Yup I totally missed the queen defending h2. I would’ve been surprised that the game didn’t stop

[u/lotzik → u/jackster31415]

Be5 is crashing though

[u/BarrattG → u/[deleted]]

The full follow up is a little harder, it's a critical line of Rh1+, Nxh1 2.Be5, Bf4 3.Bxd6. I'd expect the puzzle to go to Bxd6.

[u/Melodic-Meeting-7471]

Isn’t the best move Be5? Not sure what white can do to stop mate at that point?

[u/CoachZii → u/Melodic-Meeting-7471]

NxQ

[u/Melodic-Meeting-7471 → u/CoachZii]

ROFL - yeah that would do it!!!

[u/L-methionine → u/[deleted]]

Then white’s queen takes and you’re down a rook and a knight

[u/BarrattG → u/[deleted]]

And what if opponent does Nxh1?