Chess Puzzle #20T8A — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1171 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen h6; bishops d3/d6; knight g5; pawns c5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a3; rooks d8/e1; bishops b2/d1; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd6 — rook d8→d6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/pp3p1p/2pB2pQ/2P3N1/8/q2B3P/1b3PPK/3br3 b - - 1 30

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