Chess Puzzle #5BxpI — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1092 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/e1; bishops f4/f7; pawns a2/c3/d4/f2/f3/h2. Black: king d7; queen d6; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/f5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf4 — queen d6→f4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen b3→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king d7→d8).
  3. Best move: Qe8# — queen e6→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2b1r/pppk1Bp1/3q3p/5p2/3PpB2/1QP2P2/P4P1P/R3R1K1 b - - 0 17

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