Chess Puzzle #0jue8 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 753 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; bishop b3; pawns a2/c4/f2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; knight c5; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen d8→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb8+ — queen e5→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen f6→d8).
  3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen b8→d8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3q2k1/p4ppp/1p2p3/2n1Q3/2P5/1B3P2/P4P1P/6K1 b - - 1 26

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