Chess Puzzle #3JAL3 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1291 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/e1; bishop c2; knights c3/g4; pawns a3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks c8/f8; bishop e6; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen b2→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight g4→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen d3→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pp3ppp/4bn2/3p4/6N1/P1NQ4/1qB2PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 1 21

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