Chess Puzzle #5LfkM — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1002 · Beginner · discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/e1; bishop c2; knights e4/e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f4; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/f6; pawns a7/b6/c5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe5 — bishop f6→e5, captures knight. 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 d3→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pb3ppp/1p3b2/2p1N3/4Nq2/2PQ4/PPB3PP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 16

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