Chess Puzzle #03fwn — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1210 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rook h4; knights c3/f5; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight d3; pawns a7/b6/c7/d6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf5 — bishop c8→f5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen g5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1b2r2/p1p2pkp/1p1p1qp1/3P1NQ1/2P1P2R/2Nn4/PP4PP/6K1 b - - 1 21

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