Chess Puzzle #3a0o8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1274 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rook a1; bishops c2/d2; knights b1/h5; pawns a3/b4/c3/e3/g2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop h2; knights c4/f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe5 — queen c7→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight h5→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen f5→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/ppq2ppp/5n2/3p1Q1N/1Pn5/P1P1P3/2BB2Pb/RN5K b - - 1 19

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