Chess Puzzle #2TsU9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1522 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks e2/f2; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f4/h2. Black: king g7; queen d4; rooks d8/f3; knights e7/f5; pawns a6/b7/d5/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf2 — rook f3→f2, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen e6→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen f7→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/1p2n1k1/p3Q1p1/3pPnN1/3q1P2/5r2/PPP1RR1P/6K1 b - - 8 31

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