Chess Puzzle #52pJR — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1157 · Beginner · attack on f2/f7, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen f2; rooks a1/f7; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g3. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops g2/g5; pawns a7/c4/d7/e6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f2→f7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
  3. Best move: Qf8# — queen f7→f8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attack on f2/f7, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3kr2/p1qp1R2/4p3/4N1b1/2pP4/2P3P1/PP3Qb1/R3K3 b Qq - 0 23

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