Chess Puzzle #2CMO1 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 803 · Beginner · endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen c2; rook f3; bishop b1; pawns a3/b2/c3/g2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook e8; bishop c5; pawns a5/b5/c4/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen d7→e7. 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

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

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/3q1pp1/7p/ppb5/2p3P1/P1P2R1P/1PQ3P1/1B3K2 b - - 4 40

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