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

Rating 478 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f2; bishop f5; knight a3; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2. Black: king b8; queen b6; rooks f8/h8; knights c6/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf5 — rook f8→f5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Nd8 (knight c6→d8).
  3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen e8→d8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k3rnr/ppp3p1/1qn5/3p1B2/8/N1P5/PP2QRP1/R5K1 b - - 5 21

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