Chess Puzzle #1Je51 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1127 · Beginner · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/f7; knight g5; pawns a2/f4/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/e8; bishops d8/g6; knights d7/e4; pawns a5/b4/c3/e5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf7 — bishop g6→f7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2br1k1/2qn1B2/6bQ/p3p1N1/1p2nP2/2p3PP/P7/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 25

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