Chess Puzzle #2I9LT — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1105 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e6; bishop f6; knight c5; pawns a3/b3/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d4/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe6 — pawn f7→e6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
  3. Best move: Qxg6# — queen h5→g6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/ppp2pp1/1qn1RB1p/2N5/3p4/PP6/2P2PPP/R2Q2K1 b kq - 0 18

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