Chess Puzzle #2wi54 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1006 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks d1/f1; bishop e2; pawns a3/b3/c2/d3/e4/e5/g4. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop g6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/e6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen c7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook a8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen h6→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/ppq4p/4p1bQ/2p1P3/3pP1P1/PP1P4/2P1B3/3R1RK1 b - - 0 26

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