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

Rating 941 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks d1/d2; bishop g2; knight g4; pawns a2/b3/e4/g3/h3. Black: king g7; queen c7; rooks a6/f8; knights d4/e6; pawns b4/c5/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h7→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen e3→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
  3. Best move: Nf6# — knight g4→f6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r2/2q2pkp/r3n1p1/2p5/1p1nP1N1/1P2Q1PP/P2R2B1/3R2K1 b - - 3 25

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