Chess Puzzle #5z7Lv — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; knight h5; pawns a2/b2/d4/e5/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/e8; bishop b6; knight e6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight e6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f7→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp3pp1/1bp1n2p/4P2N/3P2Pq/4BQ1P/PP6/R4RK1 b - - 4 25

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