Chess Puzzle #4t3Xz — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1039 · Beginner · discovered attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen c2; rook h1; knights e4/g3; pawns a2/b2/c4. Black: king g8; queen g4; rooks a8/f8; pawns a6/b7/d6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d5 — pawn d6→d5. 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 c2→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1p3ppp/p2pp3/8/2P1N1q1/6N1/PPQ2K2/7R b - - 3 23

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