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

Rating 1051 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e7; rook f1; bishop b3; pawns a2/c2/g5/h4. Black: king h8; queen d2; rook d8; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb3 — knight d4→b3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f1→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook d8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e7→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/ppp1Q2p/6p1/6P1/3n3P/1B6/P1Pq4/1K3R2 b - - 5 30

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