Chess Puzzle #3KKMc — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1263 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h3; rooks a1/h1; bishop g3; knights g4/g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/d6; knights f6/g6; pawns a7/b6/c4/d5/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e6→e5. 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: Qh7# — queen h3→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/p1q2pp1/1p1bpnn1/3p2N1/2pP2N1/2P1P1BQ/PP3PPP/R3K2R b KQ - 7 17

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