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

Rating 885 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen c1; rook h8; bishop e2; knight d2; pawns a2/c3/d4/e3/g6. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks b8/f8; bishop c6; knight d7; pawns a5/c4/d5/e4/g7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh8 — king g8→h8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh1+ — queen c1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen h1→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rkR/3n2p1/1qb3P1/p2p4/2pPp3/2P1P3/P2NB3/K1Q5 b - - 3 27

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