Chess Puzzle #3GW4e — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1239 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rook a1; bishop c4; pawns a4/b2/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e5; rook a8; bishops b7/g7; pawns a6/b6/c5/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc8 — bishop b7→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen d7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qg8# — queen f7→g8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1b1Q1pb1/pp4pp/2p1q3/P1B5/2P4P/1P3PP1/R5K1 b - - 1 20

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