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

Rating 1190 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen e5; rooks b1/d1; knight g4; pawns a3/b2/d4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks c2/c8; knight f5; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/f7/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nh4 — knight f5→h4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh6+ — knight g4→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen e5→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/4qp1p/p3p3/1p1pQnp1/3P2N1/P4P1P/1Pr3PK/1R1R4 b - - 4 34

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