Chess Puzzle #1eg4J — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1204 · Intermediate · epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks a1/e1; knight f6; pawns a2/d3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c2; rooks f8/h8; bishop d7; pawns a7/b5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf6 — pawn g7→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen f3→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Bg4 (bishop d7→g4).
  3. Best move: Qxg4# — queen g3→g4, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rkr/p2b1ppp/5N2/1p6/8/3P1Q1P/P1q3P1/R3R2K b - - 1 22

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