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

Rating 1474 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks d1/e1; bishops b2/c2; knight e4; pawns a2/b3/g2/h5. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/e8; bishop f8; knights e5/e6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight e6→d4. 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 f5→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3rbk1/pp1q1ppp/3pn3/2p1nQ1P/4N3/1P6/PBB3P1/3RR1K1 b - - 2 24

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