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

Rating 1270 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rook a1; bishops f1/f4; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c5/d4/e3/e6/f2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/g1; bishop f8; knights c6/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/f6/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g5 — pawn g7→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
  3. Best move: Qf7# — queen h5→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qkbn1/ppp3p1/2n1Pp2/2Pp4/3P1B2/4P3/PP3P2/RN1QKBr1 b Qq - 0 10

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