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

Rating 1151 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook d1; bishops b5/g3; knights c3/e5; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/h5; knights a1/d7; pawns a7/b7/d6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe5 — pawn d6→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxd7+ — bishop b5→d7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd7 (queen d8→d7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxd7# — queen d3→d7, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxd7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qkb1r/pp1n1pp1/3p3p/1B2N2b/4P3/2NQ2BP/PP3PP1/n2R2K1 b kq - 0 16

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