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

Rating 998 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks a1/h4; knights f6/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f7; rooks f8/g7; bishop d6; knights c6/h7; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf6 — queen f7→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h4→h7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh7 (rook g7→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h3→h7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/ppp2qrn/2nb1N2/4p1N1/7R/3P3Q/PPP2PPP/R5K1 b - - 14 24

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