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

Rating 1066 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/f6; bishop e2; knights c3/g5; pawns a3/b2/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops b7/e7; knight g6; pawns a6/b5/c5/d6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf6 — bishop e7→f6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/1b2bp1p/p2p1RnQ/1pp3N1/4P3/P1N5/1PP1B1PP/R5K1 b - - 0 17

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