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

Rating 1052 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook f1; bishop e4; pawns a4/c2/d3/g2/g5. Black: king h6; queen c7; rooks b8/f8; bishop b5; pawns a7/b6/d4/f6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg5 — pawn f6→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen f3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h6→g7).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h3→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1r3r2/p1q4p/1p3p1k/1b4P1/P2pB3/3P1Q2/2P3P1/5RK1 b - - 0 27

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