Chess Puzzle #25eas — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 937 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks f1/h7; bishop e3; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f6/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b4/c6; knight d7; pawns a6/b7/d3/e5/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king h8→h7, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen g5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qg7# — queen h6→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r1k/1p1n1p1R/p1b2Pp1/4p1Q1/1b6/1N1pB3/PPP3PP/5RK1 b - - 0 19

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