Chess Puzzle #1TB4F — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

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

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; knight g6; pawns a3/b4/d4/e3/f2/g2/g3. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d5/e5/f6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxg6 — king g7→g6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g6→g7).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen h5→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, swallowstail mate. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r2/1p1b2k1/p1n2pN1/3pp3/1P1P4/P3P1P1/5PP1/R2QK2R b KQ - 0 18

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