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

Rating 515 · Beginner · endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c3; rook b1; bishop f2; pawns b4/d4/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b5; rook a4; knight f5; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a6→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c3→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen b5→e8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen c8→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1p3ppp/p3p3/1q1p1n2/rP1P1P2/2Q4P/5BP1/1R5K b - - 1 29

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