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

Rating 1010 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen h5; rooks g1/g2; bishop e3; pawns a4/b3/c2/d4/f4/g6. Black: king g8; queen e8; rooks c3/f6; bishop e7; knight d7; pawns a5/b4/d5/e6/f5/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe3 — rook c3→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4q1k1/3nb1p1/4prP1/p2p1p1Q/Pp1P1P2/1Pr1B3/2P3R1/2K3R1 b - - 8 29

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