Chess Puzzle #21z6P — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1114 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen e4; rooks a1/h1; bishop f6; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/e8; bishop d6; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf6 — pawn g7→f6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen e4→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: r3r1k1/pp3ppp/1qpbpB2/6N1/4Q3/3P2PP/PPP2P2/R3K2R b KQ - 0 18

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