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

Rating 1184 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight g3; pawns a3/c2/d3/e4/f6/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops b5/d6; pawns b3/c5/c6/d4/e5/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh8 — rook f8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qg7# — queen h6→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/2q2p1k/2pb1Ppp/1bp1p3/3pP2Q/Pp1P2N1/2P3PP/R1B2RK1 b - - 1 21

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