Chess Puzzle #2vsi2 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1000 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks a7/c1; bishop a5; pawns b3/b4/g2/h3. Black: king b8; queen d4; rook h8; bishop f6; knight f5; pawns a6/b5/e5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxa7 — king b8→a7, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rc7+ — rook c1→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king a7→b8).
  3. Best move: Qb7# — queen f3→b7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qb7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/R5p1/p4b1p/Bp2pn2/1P1q4/1P3Q1P/6P1/2R4K b - - 0 41

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