Chess Puzzle #2U9z0 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 837 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c3/e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; knight g4; pawns a7/c6/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook e8→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e4→e8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r1k1/p1p2ppp/2p5/7q/4P1n1/2B3PP/PPP1B3/R2QK2R b KQ - 0 16

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