Chess Puzzle #2Huoc — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1508 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h8; rook f1; bishop e2; knight b1; pawns a2/c4/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d6; queen d8; rook a8; bishops a1/c8; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/e4. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c6 — pawn c7→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen h8→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king d6→d7).
  3. Best move: Bg4# — bishop e2→g4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Bg4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rnbq2nQ/ppp5/3k4/3p4/2PPp3/8/P3BPPP/bN3RK1 b - - 0 13

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