Chess Puzzle #1Xii4 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 861 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/g6; bishops b2/d3; knight d2; pawns a3/b3/c2/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks a8/f8; bishops c6/e7; knight h7; pawns a6/b7/d4/e6/f7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg6 — pawn f7→g6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen g4→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen g6→h7, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1p2bp1n/p1b1p1R1/3qP3/3p1PQ1/PP1B4/1BPN2PP/R5K1 b - - 0 18

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