Chess Puzzle #2Vs82 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1363 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen c2; rook g4; knight e5; pawns b2/c3/h3. Black: king h8; queen c6; rooks d8/f8; bishop e7; pawns b4/c5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd6 — bishop e7→d6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh4+ — rook g4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  3. Best move: Qg6# — queen c2→g6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r1k/4b3/2q5/2p1N3/1p4R1/2P4P/1PQ4K/8 b - - 0 31

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