Chess Puzzle #2U8kd — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 828 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks e1/g3; pawns a3/b4/c2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/e4/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh7 — king g8→h7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen h5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen g6→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1ppb2p1/p2p3p/3P3Q/1P2p3/P5RP/2P2PP1/4R1K1 b - - 1 21

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