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

Rating 785 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rooks e1/f1; pawns a2/c3/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen b6; rooks e6/h8; bishop a3; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf6 — rook e6→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen f5→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen b6→d8).
  3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen c8→d8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5k1r/pp3ppp/1q2r3/5Q2/8/b1P4P/P5P1/4RR1K b - - 1 22

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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