Chess Puzzle #0sO6B — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 756 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/e4; knights b1/g1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/e7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
  3. Best move: Qxg6# — queen h5→g6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, opening, short. The combination ends with Qxg6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qkb1r/pp1np1p1/2p2n1p/8/3PB3/2P5/PP6/RNBQK1NR b KQkq - 0 12

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