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

Rating 1079 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rook b8; bishop e4; pawns a2/b2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; rooks d7/e6; bishop f4; knights d4/g3; pawns b5/e5/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight g3→e4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen b4→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g7→h7).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen f8→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1R6/3r2k1/4r1p1/1p2p2p/1Q1nBb2/6nP/PP4P1/6K1 b - - 12 36

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