Chess Puzzle #4cU3t — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1245 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; knight d7; pawns a3/b4/d4/e3/f2/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishop a6; knight f6; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb5 — queen a5→b5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d7→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen c2→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/3N1ppp/b3pn2/q2p4/1P1P4/P3P1P1/2Q2PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 0 18

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