Chess Puzzle #16J3D — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1208 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks d1/g5; bishop e3; pawns b2/c4/d3/f3/f5/h6. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks d7/e8; bishop f8; knight b4; pawns a6/c5/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf7 — king g8→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rg7+ — rook g5→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Bxg7 (bishop f8→g7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen e5→g7, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2q1rbk1/3r3p/p6P/2p1QPR1/1nP5/3PBP2/1P6/3R2K1 b - - 0 33

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