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

Rating 922 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; bishops a3/e4; pawns a2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen a5; rook e8; bishops a7/d1; knight e7; pawns a6/e5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king h8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/b3npp1/p7/q3p3/4B3/B1P4Q/P4PPP/3b2K1 b - - 1 26

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