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

Rating 950 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rook a1; bishops b2/h7; pawns a2/b3/d2/d5/e3/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop b4; knight e1; pawns a5/b7/c7/d6/f7/g5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king g8→h7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h5→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1pp2p1B/3p4/p2P2p1/1b6/1P2P1PP/PB1P1P2/R2Qn1K1 b - - 0 17

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