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

Rating 655 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks d5/f1; bishop f4; knight f3; pawns a3/b2/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c8; rooks b8/f8; bishop d8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf4 — rook f8→f4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen a4→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f4→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1rqb1r1k/ppp3pp/3p4/3Rp3/Q3PB2/P4N1P/1P3PP1/5RK1 b - - 0 20

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