Chess Puzzle #232Vf — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 475 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c1/f1; bishop b3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen h6; rooks a8/f5; bishop c8; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight g6→f4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f5→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b4k/pp4pp/2pp2nq/5r2/3P4/1BN4P/PPP1Q1P1/2R2RK1 b - - 1 21

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