Chess Puzzle #1vAvE — Beginner, White to move, opening

Rating 923 · Beginner · attack on f2/f7, mate, mate in 2, opening, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks a1/f1; bishops a2/e3; knights b1/g5; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/g2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/h2; knights c6/g8; pawns a6/b5/c5/d7/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be5 — bishop h2→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen h5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
  3. Best move: Qf8# — queen f7→f8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attack on f2/f7, mate, mate in 2, opening, short. The combination ends with Qf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k1nr/1bqp1pp1/p1n1p2p/1pp3NQ/4P3/P2PB3/BPP2PPb/RN3R1K b kq - 1 11

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