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

Rating 1114 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rook a1; bishop h7; knights c3/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/f6; knight f8; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh7 — knight f8→h7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bqrnk1/ppp2p1B/4pb1Q/6N1/3P4/2N5/PPP3PP/R5K1 b - - 1 15

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