Chess Puzzle #3YZE8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1383 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen c1; bishop e5; pawns a2/e6/f2/g3. Black: king h8; rooks c8/e8; bishop e7; pawns c2/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ba3 — bishop e7→a3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen c1→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen h6→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r2k/4b1p1/4P2p/4B3/8/6P1/P1p2PK1/2Q5 b - - 1 37

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