Chess Puzzle #1Eg8d — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 932 · Beginner · master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rook f7; bishops c2/d4; pawns a2/b2/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen e7; rook e8; bishop c6; knight d7; pawns a4/b4/d5/e4/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf7 — queen e7→f7, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen g3→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h4→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/3nqR1k/2b3p1/3p4/pp1Bp3/6QP/PPB3P1/6K1 b - - 7 38

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