Chess Puzzle #57ZLT — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1140 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e7; rook e1; bishops b3/c3; pawns a2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen f6; rook b8; knights f8/h5; pawns a5/b6/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen f6→c3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen e7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
  3. Best move: Qg8# — queen f7→g8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r3n2/4Qpk1/1p3qpp/p6n/8/1BB5/P1P2PPP/4R1K1 b - - 3 28

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