Chess Puzzle #0ymlc — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 960 · Beginner · epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks a1/f1; bishops g2/g7; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c4/d3/e4/f5/g6. Black: king f8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops d7/e5; knight g8; pawns a6/b7/c5/d4/d6/f6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxg7 — king f8→g7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h4→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  3. Best move: Qf7# — queen h7→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qrkn1/1p1b2B1/p2p1pP1/2p1bP2/2PpP2Q/3P4/PP2N1B1/R4RK1 b - - 0 21

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