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

Rating 980 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen h5; rooks a1/h1; bishop d3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knight b8; pawns a6/b7/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: O-O — king e8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h5→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rnbqk2r/1p3ppp/p7/4p2Q/4N3/3B4/PPPK1PPP/R6R b kq - 0 13

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