Chess Puzzle #3EWBm — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1022 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h5; rooks a1/h1; bishop d3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight g6; pawns a7/b6/c6/d4/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight g6→f4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h5→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/p4ppp/1pp3n1/4P2Q/3pN3/3B4/PPP2PPP/R3K2R b KQ - 2 13

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