Chess Puzzle #3D42V — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1025 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook b1; bishops a3/c2; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/c4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook a8; bishops c8/g7; knight e3; pawns a7/b7/c6/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc2 — knight e3→c2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e2→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: r1b3k1/ppq3bp/2p3p1/5p2/2P5/BP2nN2/P1B1Q1PP/1R4K1 b - - 1 19

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