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

Rating 1222 · Intermediate · clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king f1; queen h1; rooks a1/h2; bishop e3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e5/f4/g6. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks c8/f8; bishop g7; knight a6; pawns a5/b4/c6/d5/e7/f6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe5 — pawn f6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h2→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh8 (bishop g7→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen h1→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/4p1b1/n1p2pP1/p2pPq2/1p1P1P2/4B3/PPP4R/R4K1Q b - - 2 23

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