Chess Puzzle #2MsLf — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 972 · Beginner · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/g6; bishops b2/c2; knight b1; pawns a2/b3/c3/d4/g4/h2. Black: king g7; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; bishop d6; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d5/f7/h6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg6 — pawn f7→g6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen d3→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen g6→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/1p3pk1/p1nb2Rp/3p4/3P2Pq/1PPQ4/PBB4P/RN4K1 b - - 0 22

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