Chess Puzzle #fQPNQ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2007 · Expert · kingside attack, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen e6; rooks a1/h1; bishop g6; knight d5; pawns a2/b3/e4/f2/g3. Black: king g8; queen a6; rooks a8/f7; bishop f8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/e5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg6 — pawn h7→g6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight d5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  3. Best move: Rh7# — rook h1→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4bk1/pp3r1p/q1npQ1B1/2pNp3/4P3/1P4P1/P4P2/R3K2R b KQ - 0 21

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