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

Rating 1126 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h3; queen h7; rook d3; pawns f2/g4/h5. Black: king f8; queen f6; rook c8; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc3 — rook c8→c3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  3. Best move: Qd8# — queen h8→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2k2/p4ppQ/1p2pq1p/7P/6P1/3R3K/5P2/8 b - - 5 36

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