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

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

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rooks b1/e1; bishop c2; pawns a3/b2/d5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks c8/e8; knight c4; pawns a6/b5/f6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rcd8 — rook c8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/5pp1/p2q1p1p/1p1P4/2n5/P2Q1P2/1PB3PP/1R2R2K b - - 1 23

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