Chess Puzzle #41Ak1 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1126 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rook d1; bishop c2; knight e6; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/h3/h4. Black: king h8; queen g7; rooks e8/g8; bishop e7; knights e5/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/h6. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg2 — queen g7→g2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen e3→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nh7 (knight f6→h7).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h6→h7, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4r1rk/ppp1b1q1/3pNn1p/3Pn3/7P/4Q2P/PPB2P2/2KR4 b - - 8 24

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