Chess Puzzle #3fwc7 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1252 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rooks c7/f1; bishop b1; knight h5; pawns a3/b2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks d8/f8; bishop a6; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf1 — bishop a6→f1, captures rook. 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: 3r1rk1/p1R2ppp/bp3n2/5Q1N/3q4/P4P2/1P4PP/1B3R1K b - - 3 23

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