Chess Puzzle #1c9Dl — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 899 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e4; rooks d1/h1; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g5; pawns a7/b7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen e4→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Qd6 (queen d8→d6).
  3. Best move: Qxd6# — queen e5→d6, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxd6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rkbq1r2/pp4p1/4P2p/3N2b1/4Q3/8/PPP2PPP/1K1R3R b - - 0 18

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