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

Rating 1153 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks e1/f1; bishops d3/f2; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops e6/e7; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c7/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: r2q1rk1/ppp1bppp/4b1n1/4P2Q/4N3/3B4/PPP2BPP/4RR1K b - - 6 17

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