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

Rating 1599 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks d1/f1; bishops b1/g3; knight d7; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks d8/f8; bishop b7; knights e7/f6; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc6 — queen c5→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d7→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen c2→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pb1Nnppp/1p2pn2/2q5/8/2P3B1/PPQ2PPP/1B1R1RK1 b - - 5 18

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