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

Rating 1163 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks c1/e1; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/d3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishop e7; knights d7/g8; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd8 — queen c7→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd6+ — knight e4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k1nr/ppqnbpp1/7p/8/4N3/3P1Q2/PP4PP/2R1R2K b kq - 1 14

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