Chess Puzzle #352cm — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1056 · Beginner · clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook b1; bishops c2/f4; knights e4/f3; pawns a4/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/d7/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf4 — knight g6→f4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen d3→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp1p1pp1/4p1np/q3P3/P3NB2/3Q1N1P/2B3P1/1R4K1 b - - 4 19

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