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

Rating 789 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rooks d1/h1; knights c3/g6; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e3/f3/h4/h6. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop b4; knight c6; pawns a5/b7/c7/d5/e6/f7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg6 — pawn f7→g6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen d3→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qg7# — queen g6→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1pp2p2/2n1p1NP/p2p4/1b1P3P/2NQPP2/PPP5/2KR3R b - - 0 16

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