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

Rating 996 · Beginner · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks e1/e8; bishop b3; pawns a2/c2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d6 — pawn d7→d6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook e8→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qe8# — queen e3→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1Rrk1/pppp1ppp/5q2/8/8/1BP1Q3/P1P2PPP/4R1K1 b - - 12 17

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