Chess Puzzle #BC347 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1464 · Intermediate · discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king b1; queen d3; rooks g1/h1; bishop h3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c4/d4. Black: king g8; queen h7; rooks a8/f8; knights b8/d5; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight d5→f4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen d3→h7, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/pp3ppq/2p1p2p/3n4/2PPN3/3Q3B/PP6/1K4RR b - - 0 18

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