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

Rating 1111 · Beginner · epaulette mate, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks d1/f1; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks f8/h8; knight d5; pawns a7/c6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf6 — knight d5→f6. 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: Qg3# — queen d3→g3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

epaulette mate, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rkr/pq3ppp/2p1p3/3n4/2P1N3/3Q4/PP3PPP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 19

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