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

Rating 1220 · Intermediate · epaulette mate, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rook f1; bishop c1; knights c3/e6; pawns a2/b2/d2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight c2; pawns a7/b7/c5/e7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight c2→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook a8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen g4→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

epaulette mate, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4bkr/pp2p1pp/2q1N3/2p5/6Q1/2N5/PPnP2PP/2B2RK1 b - - 7 17

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