Chess Puzzle #1IqQ4 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 952 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b2; queen d4; rooks d1/h1; knight g4; pawns a3/b3/f3/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks b8/e8; knight c5; pawns a7/b5/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a7→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh6+ — knight g4→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen d4→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r1qr1k1/p3pp1p/3p2p1/1pn5/3Q2NP/PP3P2/1K4P1/3R3R b - - 1 21

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