Chess Puzzle #1FFO3 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 994 · Beginner · clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; knights e4/g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishops b7/e7; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/c4/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e4→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen c2→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1rk1/pb2bppp/1p2pn2/6N1/2pPN3/2P1B3/PPQ3PP/R4R1K b - - 2 16

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