Chess Puzzle #07OpV — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 654 · Beginner · hanging piece, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a3; queen a5; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c2; rooks c6/d8; bishop f5; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen c2→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen a5→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ne8 (knight f6→e8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen d8→e8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

hanging piece, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/pp3ppp/2r2n2/Q4b2/8/KPN5/P1q3PP/R4B1R b - - 1 19

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