Chess Puzzle #345Mu — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1182 · Beginner · deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks a1/g3; bishop h6; pawns a3/c3/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b6; rooks f7/f8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f5/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh6 — pawn g7→h6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rh7 (rook f7→h7).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen h6→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/pp3rp1/1qn1p1QB/3pPp2/3P4/P1P3R1/5PPP/R5K1 b - - 0 20

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