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

Rating 1062 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks d1/f1; bishops c4/e3; pawns a2/b3/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishop b7; knights b8/d5; pawns a4/a7/c6/e5/f6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe3 — knight d5→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen e7→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qf7# — queen h5→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn3k1r/pb2q1p1/2p2p1p/3np2Q/p1B5/1P2B3/P1P2PPP/3R1RK1 b - - 7 23

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