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

Rating 1295 · Intermediate · deflection, fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks a1/g3; bishop f7; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c7; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg3 — bishop c7→g3, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen c2→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen g6→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r2/1pb2Bk1/p1n4p/8/3P4/6R1/PPQ1N1PP/R6K b - - 0 23

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