Chess Puzzle #1dSn8 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 921 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h7; rook d6; bishop b5; pawns a2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen c7; rook f6; pawns a7/b6/e6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd6 — queen c7→d6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  3. Best move: Qe8# — queen h8→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/p1q3pQ/1p1Rpr1p/1B6/8/2P5/P4PPP/6K1 b - - 0 29

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