Chess Puzzle #2iAkp — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1264 · Intermediate · discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c2; knight h5; pawns a2/b2/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks d8/f8; bishop d7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight h5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h3→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pp1b1ppp/2n1p3/3p2qN/8/4P2Q/PPB3PP/R4RK1 b - - 7 17

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