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

Rating 1100 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen a4; rooks a1/e8; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen h2; rooks a8/h8; bishop d6; pawns a7/b6/c3/c5/d5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe8 — rook a8→e8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen a4→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop d6→f8).
  3. Best move: Qe6# — queen e8→e6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qe6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3R1kr/p5pp/1p1b4/2pp4/Q7/2p5/PPP2PPq/RN3K2 b - - 1 18

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