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

Rating 926 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/e1; bishop e6; knight c3; pawns a4/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/e7; knights d7/g8; pawns a6/b6/d6/f4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g5 — pawn g6→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen f3→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qf7# — queen h5→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qk1nr/1b1nb2p/pp1pB1p1/8/P3Pp2/2N2Q2/1PP2PPP/R3R1K1 b kq - 1 14

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