Chess Puzzle #2zO9H — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1167 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks a1/f1; knights b1/e5; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight f5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke7 — king e8→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd7+ — queen a4→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king e7→f6).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen d7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/pp3p2/1q2p2p/3pNnp1/Q2P4/8/PP3PPP/RN3RK1 b kq - 2 15

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