Chess Puzzle #0XLOu — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1010 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks b7/d1; bishop e3; pawns a3/b2/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/e8; knight d5; pawns a7/c6/f6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe3 — knight d5→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen c4→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f7→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pR3ppp/2p2p2/q2n4/2Q5/P3B2P/1PP2PP1/3R2K1 b - - 0 20

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