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

Rating 1084 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/f1; knights e5/g5; pawns a2/b3/c4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/e8; bishop b7; knight f4; pawns a6/c5/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen f6→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/1b2pp1p/p4qpQ/2p1N1N1/2P2n2/1P5P/P4PP1/R4RK1 b - - 5 21

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