Chess Puzzle #0cw8z — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1367 · Intermediate · deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks g3/h6; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen b7; rooks f7/f8; knight e8; pawns a6/b5/c5/e5/f6/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: 4nr1k/1q3rp1/p4pQR/1ppNp3/4P3/P2P2RP/1PP3P1/6K1 b - - 0 37

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