Chess Puzzle #04990 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 978 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f1; rooks d1/d7; bishop e3; pawns a2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks a8/c8; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe3 — queen e5→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f1→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f7→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/p2R1pp1/1p2p2p/4q3/8/4B3/P1P3PP/3R1Q1K b - - 1 26

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