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

Rating 1037 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen c4; rooks d1/g1; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/f2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knights b8/f4; pawns a7/c5/d6/e6/f5/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight f4→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen c4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  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: rn3r1k/p2qb1p1/3pp1p1/2p1PpN1/2Q2n2/2P5/PP3P1P/2KR2R1 b - - 0 20

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