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

Rating 987 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen a4; rooks a1/e1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f4/g3. Black: king c8; queen g5; rooks a8/h8; bishops g4/g7; knight f3; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh5 — queen g5→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook h8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen a4→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1k4r/ppp3bp/3p2p1/3P2q1/Q4Pb1/2N2nP1/PPP2K2/R3R3 b - - 2 21

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