Chess Puzzle #2WiIG — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c2/g5; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/c5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishops b7/e7; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight d7→c5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e4→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen d3→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1rk1/pb1nbppp/1p2pn2/2P3B1/4N3/2PQ1N2/PPB2PPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 14

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