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

Rating 1132 · Beginner · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks b1/f1; bishops e5/g2; knight e4; pawns a2/b3/c5/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h7; queen a5; rooks a8/g8; bishops c8/g7; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/d7/f5/g6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight g4→e5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxg8# — queen f7→g8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b3r1/pp1p1Qbk/6pp/q1P1Bp2/4N1n1/1P2P1P1/P4PBP/1R3RK1 b - - 0 23

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