Chess Puzzle #3s0Ad — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1002 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks a1/f1; bishops b2/d3; knight e4; pawns a2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishops d7/e7; knight c4; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb2 — knight c4→b2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h3→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1rk1/pp1bbppp/4p3/8/2nPN3/2PB3Q/PB3PPP/R4RK1 b - - 12 17

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