Chess Puzzle #28USP — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 953 · Beginner · endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rook d7; bishop d3; pawns a3/b2/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook c8; knight d5; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb8 — queen b6→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen e4→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/3R1ppp/pq2p3/1p1n4/3PQ3/P2B3P/1P3PP1/6K1 b - - 11 30

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