Chess Puzzle #4VfS4 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1187 · Beginner · clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks d1/f1; bishop c2; knights d6/h7; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knights b8/d4; pawns a6/c5/e6/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd6 — queen e7→d6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight h7→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen d3→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/1b2qppN/p2Np3/2p5/2Pn4/3Q4/PPB2PPP/3R1RK1 b - - 3 19

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