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

Rating 1276 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, opening, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop c2; knights b1/f5; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/e5; knight a5; pawns a7/b6/d7/f6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d5 — pawn d7→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen e2→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qg7# — queen g4→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, opening, short. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r1k1/p1qp1p1p/1p3p2/n3bN2/4P3/7P/PPB1QPP1/RN3R1K b - - 4 16

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