Chess Puzzle #24kHe — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 971 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen c2; rooks d1/h1; bishop b1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3/e5/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks b7/b8; bishop d7; pawns a6/c4/c7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb2 — rook b7→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen c2→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/1rpbqpp1/p3p2p/3pP3/2pP2P1/2P1P3/PPQ4P/1BKR3R b - - 4 21

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