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

Rating 1111 · Beginner · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rook e1; bishop d4; knight c3; pawns a2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rook c2; bishop e5; knight d7; pawns c6/c7/d6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh4 — queen d8→h4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen f7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Nf8 (knight d7→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3q3k/2pn1Qpp/2pp4/4b3/3B1P2/2N5/P1r3PP/4R1K1 b - - 0 21

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