Chess Puzzle #1sv7G — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1353 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen f5; knight e7; pawns a3/b4/e5/g2. Black: king g8; queen e1; knight g5; pawns a7/b6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king g8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen f5→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
  3. Best move: Qg8# — queen c8→g8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p3Npp1/1p5p/4PQn1/1P6/P7/6PK/4q3 b - - 7 43

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