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

Rating 892 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook f1; bishops b1/e3; knight e2; pawns a3/b2/d4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rook c8; bishops b7/e7; knight g4; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe3 — knight g4→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1b2bpp1/p3p2p/1p1q4/3P2n1/P2QBP2/1P2N1PP/1B3RK1 b - - 3 21

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