Chess Puzzle #4wrL3 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1161 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e4; knight g5; pawns a3/b4/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/e7; knight b8; pawns a7/b5/c6/e6/f5/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe4 — pawn f5→e4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen d3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen h3→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn3r1k/pb1qb1p1/2p1p3/1p2PpN1/1P1PB3/P2Q4/5PPP/R1B2RK1 b - - 1 19

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