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

Rating 1020 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks a1/e1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks d8/e8; bishops b8/e6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxa2 — bishop e6→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h4→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: 1b1rr1k1/pp3pp1/2pqb3/8/3P3Q/2PB3P/PP3PP1/R3R1K1 b - - 2 21

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