Chess Puzzle #1BYj2 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 993 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e7; rooks d1/f1; bishop f4; pawns a2/b2/c2/c3/f2/h2. Black: king b8; queen g2; rooks d8/g8; bishop g7; pawns a7/b7/c6/g5/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf4 — pawn g5→f4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook g8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen e7→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r2r1/pp2Q1bp/2p5/6p1/5B2/2P5/PPP2PqP/2KR1R2 b - - 2 19

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