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

Rating 948 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f2; rook f1; bishop f6; knight e7; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen g7; rooks b8/f8; bishop e6; pawns a6/b5/c4/e5/g4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf7 — queen g7→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen f2→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Qh5 (queen f7→h5).
  3. Best move: Qxh5# — queen h4→h5, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r3r2/4N1qk/p3bB2/1p2p3/2p1P1p1/8/PPP2QPP/5R1K b - - 8 35

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