Chess Puzzle #23Tow — Beginner, White to move, opening

Rating 993 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishops b1/h4; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/e3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/e8; bishop g4; knights d7/e4; pawns a7/b7/c4/d5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd2 — knight e4→d2, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen c2→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: r3r1k1/pp1n1pp1/3q3p/3p4/2p1n1bB/2P1PP2/PPQN2PP/RB2K2R b KQ - 0 18

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