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

Rating 1188 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen f7; rook h1; bishops c1/e4; pawns a2/d4/e2/f2/g3. Black: king h8; queen a1; rook a8; bishops c8/g7; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/e7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen f7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1b4k/pp2pQbp/2p2np1/8/3PB3/6P1/P3PP2/q1B2K1R b - - 1 17

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