Chess Puzzle #09zWn — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 880 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen g6; rooks a1/h1; bishop c4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f7; bishop e7; knight b8; pawns a7/b5/c6/e4/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc4 — pawn b5→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen g6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn1q2k1/p3brp1/2p3Q1/1p6/2BPp3/8/PPP2PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 0 17

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