Chess Puzzle #002Mm — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 908 · Beginner · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h7; rook a1; bishop c1; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/e4/f2/g2/g6. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/f6/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king g8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen h8→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn1qr1k1/ppp3pQ/3p1pP1/3Pp3/2P1P3/8/PP3PP1/R1B1K3 b Q - 2 16

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