Chess Puzzle #4HZW1 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1127 · Beginner · discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king e1; queen d3; rooks d1/h1; bishop c4; knights e4/g5; pawns a2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops b2/b7; knight b8; pawns a5/b5/c6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc4 — pawn b5→c4, 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 d3→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/1bq2ppp/2p1p3/pp4N1/2B1N3/3Q4/PbP2PPP/3RK2R b K - 1 17

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