Chess Puzzle #0GBU2 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1249 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks a1/f1; bishops e3/g2; knight c3; pawns a3/b4/c2/e4/g6/h3. Black: king h8; queen e5; rooks a8/d7; bishop e7; knights a6/e8; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen e5→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop e7→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3n2k/pp1rbQp1/n1p1p1P1/4q3/1P2P3/P1N1B2P/2P3B1/R4RK1 b - - 0 22

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