Chess Puzzle #1xYN3 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 603 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook c1; bishop c2; pawns a3/b4/e5/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook d8; bishop e8; knight a7; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook d8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d3→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: 3rb1k1/n3qpp1/p3p2p/1p1pP3/1P3P2/P2Q2P1/2B4P/2R3K1 b - - 2 29

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