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

Rating 906 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d1; queen c2; rook c1; bishops b1/b2; knights d2/f3; pawns a2/c3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f2; rooks a8/d8; bishops c8/e7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen c2→h7, captures pawn, 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: r1br2k1/pp2bppp/2n1p3/4P3/8/2P2N2/PBQN1qPP/1BRK4 b - - 0 17

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