Chess Puzzle #25zMZ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 754 · Beginner · kingside attack, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook d1; bishops b1/g3; knight g4; pawns b2/d4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b7; rook c8; bishops d5/e7; knight f6; pawns e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg4 — knight f6→g4, captures knight. 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, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1q2bpp1/4pn1p/3b4/3P2N1/3Q1PB1/1P4PP/1B1R2K1 b - - 6 26

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