Chess Puzzle #0f5fX — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 962 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rooks b1/d1; knight g4; pawns f4/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen a5; rooks c8/d8; bishop c3; pawns b4/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf5 — queen a5→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen h4→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rr1k2/5pp1/4p2p/q7/1p3PNQ/2b4P/6P1/1R1R3K b - - 5 41

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