Chess Puzzle #1A3Ws — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1104 · Beginner · attack on f2/f7, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen f4; rooks d1/h1; bishop g2; knights c3/g5; pawns b2/c2/d4/f2/g3/h4. Black: king e8; queen b4; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knights d7/g4; pawns a4/d5/e6/f7/g7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a3 — pawn a4→a3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f4→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
  3. Best move: Nxe6# — knight g5→e6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attack on f2/f7, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nxe6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/3n1pp1/4p3/3p2Np/pq1P1QnP/2N3P1/1PP2PB1/2KR3R b kq - 1 16

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