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

Rating 1076 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rook e1; bishop h7; knights c3/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/d8; bishops c8/f6; knight f8; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh7 — knight f8→h7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1br1nk1/pp3p1B/2p1pb1Q/q5N1/3P4/2N4P/PPP3P1/4R1K1 b - - 1 18

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