Chess Puzzle #1OibL — Beginner, White to move, opening

Rating 1141 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen f1; rooks a1/h8; bishops e3/g2; knights c3/g5; pawns a2/b2/d4/e5/f2/g4. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks c8/f8; bishops b4/d7; knights a5/e7; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh8 — king g8→h8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh1+ — queen f1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen h1→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rkR/pp1bnp2/1q2p1p1/n2pP1N1/1b1P2P1/2N1B3/PP3PB1/R3KQ2 b Q - 3 17

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