Chess Puzzle #2CM25 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1184 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rook h4; pawns b4/c3/f2/g4/h3. Black: king h7; queen c6; rook d6; pawns a7/b6/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re6 — rook d6→e6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen e3→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h6→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 8/p4p1k/1pqr2pp/8/1P4PR/2P1Q2P/5P2/6K1 b - - 2 33

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