Chess Puzzle #4cg2G — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1037 · Beginner · endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king h2; queen a8; rook e4; pawns b3/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook d1; pawns b5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd8 — queen c7→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e4→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen a8→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short, X-ray attack. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: Q5k1/2q2ppp/8/1p6/4R3/1P4PP/5P1K/3r4 b - - 2 30

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