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

Rating 751 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishop e2; pawns a2/c3/f2/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/e5; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bg4 — bishop c8→g4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen c2→h7, captures pawn, 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: r1b3k1/pp2qppp/8/3pr3/8/2P3P1/P1Q1BPP1/R3K2R b KQ - 2 17

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