Chess Puzzle #0u56S — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 877 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen h5; rooks a4/h1; bishop e3; knight f8; pawns b3/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rook a8; bishops c8/e7; knight c3; pawns a6/b7/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxa4 — knight c3→a4, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h5→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1b2Nk1/1p2bppp/p7/4p2Q/Rq6/1Pn1B3/2P2PPP/2K4R b - - 1 20

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