Chess Puzzle #0s09N — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 988 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/g6; knight e5; pawns a5/d4/e3/f2/g4/h3. Black: king e7; queen d6; rooks c7/h8; bishop f8; knight d5; pawns a6/b4/c4/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe5 — pawn f6→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f3→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e7→d8).
  3. Best move: Qe8# — queen f7→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5b1r/2r1k1pp/p2q1pB1/P2nN3/1ppP2P1/4PQ1P/5P2/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 23

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