Chess Puzzle #30kmc — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1053 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks f1/f6; bishop c2; knight d2; pawns a2/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks c3/f8; knight e7; pawns a7/d5/e6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf6 — rook f8→f6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen h5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f6→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p3n1p1/3qpR1p/3p3Q/3P4/2r5/P1BN2PP/5RK1 b - - 0 21

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