Chess Puzzle #1Hy3B — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1112 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rook a1; bishop c1; knights c3/g5; pawns a2/b2/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen d4; rooks a8/g8; bishop b7; knight f6; pawns a6/b5/c5/e6/f7/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight f6→g4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen c2→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r5r1/1b3pk1/p3pn2/1pp1P1Np/3q1P2/2N5/PPQ3PP/R1B4K b - - 2 21

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