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

Rating 810 · Beginner · hanging piece, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/f6; bishops c1/c4; pawns a2/b2/c2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop b7; knight b8; pawns a7/b6/c7/e4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf6 — queen d8→f6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen h5→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen f6→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: rn1qr2k/pbp3pp/1p3R2/7Q/2B1p3/2P5/PPP3PP/R1B3K1 b - - 0 15

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