Chess Puzzle #0Qp6f — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1273 · Intermediate · deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks g3/h6; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c3/e3/e5/f4/g2. Black: king h8; queen d7; rooks f7/f8; bishop c8; pawns a6/b7/c4/d5/e6/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh6 — pawn g7→h6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rh7 (rook f7→h7).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen h6→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2b2r1k/1p1q1rp1/p3p1QR/3pP3/2pN1P2/2P1P1R1/PP4P1/6K1 b - - 0 26

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