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

Rating 970 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d1; queen e2; rooks a1/h8; bishop d3; knights b3/e6; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/g2/g6. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f4; bishops e3/e8; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh8 — king g8→h8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen e2→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen h5→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3b1kR/pp1n2p1/1qp1N1P1/3pP3/5r2/1N1Bb3/PPP1Q1P1/R2K4 b - - 3 21

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