Chess Puzzle #1YNfa — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1128 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, swallowstail mate.

Position

White: king g1; queen g7; rooks a1/f6; bishop e3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e6; queen e8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c3/c8; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d5/f5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf6 — rook f8→f6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen g7→f6, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e6→d7).
  3. Best move: Qd6# — queen f6→d6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, swallowstail mate. The combination ends with Qd6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1qr2/1p4Q1/p1n1kR2/3pPp2/5P2/2b1B3/PPP3PP/R5K1 b - - 0 19

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