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

Rating 1111 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop d5; knight d4; pawns a4/b2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/f4; bishop c8; knight c4; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c6→d5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f4→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→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: r1b3k1/pp4pp/2p5/3B4/P1nN1r1q/7P/1P2Q1P1/R4RK1 b - - 0 22

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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