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

Rating 696 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks a1/e1; knights e7/g5; pawns a4/c3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f8; rooks a8/e8; bishops c5/d5; pawns a5/c6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe7 — queen f8→e7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen e4→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: r3rqk1/4Nppp/2p5/p1bbP1N1/P3Q3/2P5/5PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 3 24

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