Chess Puzzle #JS335 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1403 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e5; knight f6; pawns a6/b5/d4/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight f6→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c2→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen e5→e8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen c8→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5pp1/p4n1p/1p2q3/3p4/3B3P/PPQ2PP1/6K1 b - - 1 26

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