Chess Puzzle #38nXb — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1141 · Beginner · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks c1/e1; bishop c2; knight h5; pawns a3/b2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks c8/e8; bishop e6; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d5/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf8 — queen e7→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight h5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/1p2qp1p/p1n1b1pQ/3pP2N/8/P7/1PB2PPP/2R1R1K1 b - - 4 23

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