Chess Puzzle #1Dmz4 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1257 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c1; rooks a1/h3; bishop d3; knight f5; pawns a2/c3/c4/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knight d7; pawns a7/b6/c5/d6/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf5 — pawn g6→f5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen c1→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r2/pb1n1pkp/1p1p2p1/2p1pN2/2P1P3/2PB3R/P4PPP/R1Q3K1 b - - 2 17

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