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

Rating 1000 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishop h7; knight e6; pawns a2/b2/d5/f3/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/c8; bishop d6; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b5/c4/c5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh7 — knight f6→h7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen c2→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qg7# — queen g6→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/p2n3B/1q1bNn1p/1ppP4/2p3P1/5P1P/PPQ5/R4RK1 b - - 1 23

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