Chess Puzzle #1QT1u — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1237 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen a7; rook b6; pawns a3/d3/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king d6; queen f8; rooks c8/g8; knight d4; pawns a6/c5/e5/f6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxd5 — king d6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd7+ — queen a7→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Qd6 (queen f8→d6).
  3. Best move: Rxd6# — rook b6→d6, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxd6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2qr1/Q5p1/pR1k1p1p/2pPp3/3n4/P2P3P/3K1PP1/8 b - - 16 34

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