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

Rating 1207 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks b1/f1; knights g4/g5; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks d8/f8; knights e7/f6; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g6/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf5 — knight e7→f5. 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 h4→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/ppq1npp1/4pnp1/6N1/3P2NQ/7P/PP3PP1/1R3RK1 b - - 2 26

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