Chess Puzzle #4FG5s — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1085 · Beginner · clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks a1/f1; bishop c4; knight h4; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e6; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/c7/e5/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen e6→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight h4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh4# — queen e4→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/1ppb2pp/p1n1qp2/4p3/2B1Q2N/2PP3P/PP3PP1/R4RK1 b - - 1 17

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