Chess Puzzle #00ax2 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 740 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rook f1; bishop e4; pawns a4/c4/d3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f8; rook a8; bishops b6/c8; pawns b5/b7/c7/d6/f4/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen f8→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen h5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen f6→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2q1k/1pp3p1/1b1p3p/1p5Q/P1P1Bp2/3P4/6PP/5R1K b - - 1 23

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