Chess Puzzle #1ghR8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1336 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop g5; knight b1; pawns a3/b2/c3/d3/f2/g4/h4. Black: king e8; queen f3; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/g6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d5/e6/f7/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh3 — queen f3→h3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen d1→a4, gives check. Opponent replies b5 (pawn b7→b5).
  3. Best move: Qxb5# — queen a4→b5, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxb5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/pp3pp1/4p1b1/2pp2B1/6PP/P1PP1q2/1P3P2/RN1Q1RK1 b kq - 2 17

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