Chess Puzzle #1X3xw — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1048 · Beginner · clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rooks d1/h1; knights e4/g5; pawns a2/b2/d4/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knight b6; pawns a7/c7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen d3→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/p1p1bppp/1n2p3/6N1/3PN2P/3Q4/PP4P1/2KR3R b - - 2 16

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