Chess Puzzle #1Wb5F — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1028 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen g4; rooks a1/f1; bishop f7; knight e5; pawns a2/d4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c3; rooks a8/f8; bishop c2; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen c3→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight e5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh3# — queen g4→h3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/pp3Bpp/8/4N3/3Pn1Q1/2q5/P1b3PP/R4R1K b - - 2 19

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