Chess Puzzle #02oX3 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 936 · Beginner · discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rook d1; bishop f6; knight h5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops f1/g7; knight b8; pawns a7/b6/c6/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf6 — bishop g7→f6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight h5→f6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h3→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/p1q2pbp/1pp1pBp1/4P2N/8/7Q/PPP2PPP/3R1bK1 b - - 1 17

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