Chess Puzzle #1OJ30 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1214 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/e1; bishops c3/d3; knight e4; pawns a3/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knights d4/d5; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight d5→c3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h5→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1b3ppp/pq2p3/1p1n3Q/3nN3/P1BB4/1P3PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 1 17

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