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

Rating 1196 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen h3; rook h1; knight f3; pawns b2/c3/d4/e3. Black: king g7; queen c7; rooks a8/b3; bishop d6; knight h7; pawns c6/d5/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf6 — knight h7→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen h3→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h6→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r7/2q2pkn/2pb2p1/3p4/3P4/1rP1PN1Q/1P6/1K5R b - - 1 29

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