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

Rating 1139 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen c2; rooks c1/f4; bishop c6; pawns a2/c3/d4/e3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen a5; rooks d8/f8; bishop c4; knight d7; pawns a7/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh4+ — rook f4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen c2→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r1r1k/p2n1pp1/2B5/q3P3/2bP1R2/2P1P3/P1QK2PP/2R5 b - - 0 24

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