Chess Puzzle #16Exk — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1001 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen f5; rook a1; bishop d3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g3/h5. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop f6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/e3/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight c6→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e4→f6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen f5→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/pp3pp1/2n2b1p/5Q1P/4N3/3Bp1P1/PPP2P2/R3K3 b Q - 1 19

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