Chess Puzzle #3eTEH — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1481 · Intermediate · attack on f2/f7, discovered attack, mate, mate in 2, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen b3; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/g2; knights d5/g5; pawns a2/b2/d2/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks b8/h8; bishops d7/f8; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be7 — bishop f8→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d5→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen b3→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attack on f2/f7, discovered attack, mate, mate in 2, opening, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r1qkb1r/pp1b1ppp/2n2n2/2pN2N1/3p4/1Q4P1/PP1PPPBP/R1B1K2R b KQk - 9 10

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