Chess Puzzle #1eY3h — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 858 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishop f4; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e2/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks a8/e8; bishops e6/e7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bg4 — bishop e6→g4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen c2→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1q1r1k1/ppp1bpp1/2n1b2p/6N1/3P1B1P/2P3P1/PPQ1P3/R3K2R b KQ - 5 17

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