Chess Puzzle #2E8SR — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 888 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks b1/d1; bishops e4/e7; knight b3; pawns a2/c3/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks b8/e8; bishop c8; knights b6/c4; pawns a6/b5/d6/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe7 — queen c7→e7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h4→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1rb1r1k1/2q1Bppp/pn1p4/1p2p3/2n1B2Q/1NP3P1/P3PP1P/1R1R2K1 b - - 5 20

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