Chess Puzzle #1R147 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1462 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e6; bishop b2; pawns a2/b3/d3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a6; rook f8; bishop c7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king g8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen e6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen h6→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/ppb3p1/q1ppQ2p/8/8/1P1P4/PB4PP/7K b - - 3 26

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