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

Rating 1075 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks c4/h1; bishop e2; knight e4; pawns a3/b4/c5/g5/h4. Black: king e7; queen e3; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knight f4; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg5 — pawn h6→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd6+ — queen d1→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king e7→e8).
  3. Best move: Nf6# — knight e4→f6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nf6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b4r/pp2kp2/2p1p1pp/2P3P1/1PR1Nn1P/P3q3/4B3/3QK2R b K - 3 21

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