Chess Puzzle #3Xty0 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1135 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop e6; knights b1/e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe6 — pawn f7→e6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
  3. Best move: Qf7# — queen h5→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bqkb1r/ppp2p1p/3pBp2/4N3/4P3/8/PPP2PPP/RN1QK2R b KQkq - 0 8

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