Chess Puzzle #17Ddp — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h6; rook g1; bishop a3; knight e7; pawns a2/b4/c2/d4/f2/g6/h4. Black: king h8; queen h2; rook a8; bishop f3; knight f8; pawns a6/b5/c4/e4/g7/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxh6 — pawn g7→h6, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: g7+ — pawn g6→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
3. Best move: g8=Q# — pawn g7→g8, promotes to queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, promotion, short. The combination ends with g8=Q# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4n1k/4N1p1/p5PQ/1p5p/1PpPp2P/B4b2/P1P2P1q/2K3R1 b - - 5 28

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