Chess Puzzle #09IUP — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1207 · Intermediate · master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rooks a1/b1; bishop d5; pawns a2/e4/e5/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks b8/d8; bishop a4; pawns a7/b7/f7/g5/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen d6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f2→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qh5# — queen f7→h5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r1r2k1/pp3pp1/3q4/3BP1p1/b3P2P/8/P4QP1/RR4K1 b - - 0 21

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