Chess Puzzle #IciXk — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1754 · Advanced · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; knight d5; pawns a2/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; bishops c6/f6; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfd8 — rook f8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h5→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p4ppp/1pb1pb2/2qN3Q/2P5/3B4/P4PPP/R4RK1 b - - 1 17

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