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

Rating 856 · Beginner · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen f4; rooks d1/f7; bishop c1; pawns a3/g2/g3/h3. Black: king h8; queen e8; rook b3; bishops d3/g7; pawns a5/c5/d6/e4/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be5 — bishop g7→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen e8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen f4→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4q2k/5Rbp/3p2p1/p1p5/4pQ2/Pr1b2PP/6PK/2BR4 b - - 1 27

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