Chess Puzzle #2CI2L — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 876 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks a1/e1; bishop g5; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg5 — queen e7→g5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen h3→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king d7→d8).
  3. Best move: Qe8# — queen e6→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn3b1r/pppkq2p/3pp3/3P2B1/8/7Q/PPP3PP/RN2R1K1 b - - 0 14

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