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

Rating 883 · Beginner · epaulette mate, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h6; rooks a1/h1; bishops d3/g7; pawns a2/b2/e5/f2/g4/h5. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop f3; knights b8/e7; pawns a6/b5/c3/e6/f5/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd3 — queen d8→d3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h6→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen h8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: rn1q1rk1/4n1B1/p3p1pQ/1p2Pp1P/6P1/2pB1b2/PP3P2/R3K2R b KQ - 0 18

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