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

Rating 976 · Beginner · epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rook a1; bishop g6; knight e2; pawns a2/c2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/f2; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg7 — king h8→g7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g7→f6).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1bqr2k/ppp2p2/4p1B1/8/5P2/7Q/P1P1NbPP/R6K b - - 1 24

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