Chess Puzzle #144RR — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1212 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen e6; rook d1; bishops h2/h5; pawns a2/b3/c4/f2/h3. Black: king f8; queen c7; rook d8; bishop b8; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/f6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc5 — knight d7→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen c7→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qf7# — queen e6→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1b1r1k2/ppqn2p1/2p1Qp2/4p2B/2P5/1P5P/P4P1B/3R1K2 b - - 5 33

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