Chess Puzzle #0AuS6 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1173 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rook f1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/g7; bishop c8; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/h6. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen c5→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen h5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Nf8 (knight d7→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/pp1n2r1/2p1p2p/2q1P2Q/8/3B4/PPP3PP/5R1K b - - 9 22

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