Chess Puzzle #043V9 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 718 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks a1/g6; bishop d3; knight d2; pawns a3/b2/c3/d4/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; knights c7/h7; pawns a5/b5/c6/d6/f7/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg6 — pawn f7→g6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen g3→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen g6→h7, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/2n2p1n/2pp2R1/pp2P2p/3P4/P1PB2QP/1P1N2P1/R5K1 b - - 0 20

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