Chess Puzzle #393Ic — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1019 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; knights d2/g5; pawns a3/b2/c3/d4/g4/h4. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f2; bishop e7; knights d7/g7; pawns a4/b7/c4/d5/e3/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd2 — rook f2→d2, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen c2→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q2k1/1p1nb1n1/7p/3p2N1/p1pP2PP/P1P1p3/1PQN1r2/R5KR b - - 1 24

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