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

Rating 1128 · Beginner · deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen f3; rook d1; bishop d2; knights c3/e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook a8; bishops c8/f8; knight e8; pawns a5/b4/c6/d7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc3 — pawn b4→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f3→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen f7→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bqnbk1/3p2pp/2p5/p3N3/1p1PP3/2N2Q2/PPPB2PP/2KR4 b - - 1 17

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