Chess Puzzle #4ECT0 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1032 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen b3; rook d4; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/f4. Black: king c8; queen e7; rook h4; knight b6; pawns a6/b7/c7/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f6 — pawn f7→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg8+ — queen b3→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen e7→d8).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d4→d8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/1pp1qpp1/pn6/4P3/3R1P1r/1QP5/PP6/1K6 b - - 1 26

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