Chess Puzzle #1gCe1 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1110 · Beginner · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen d8; rook b7; knights c8/g3; pawns a2/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen f2; rook h8; knights e5/f6; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne8 — knight f6→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe7+ — queen d8→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen e7→e8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2NQ1k1r/pR3ppp/4pn2/3pn3/8/6NP/P4qPK/8 b - - 3 29

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