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

Rating 1092 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishop d3; knight c3; pawns a4/b2/c2/d5/e4/f2/g2. Black: king g7; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/c5/d6/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd3 — knight e5→d3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen d2→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4r2/1p1b1pkp/p2ppqp1/2pPn3/P3P3/2NB4/1PPQ1PP1/R5KR b - - 3 18

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