Chess Puzzle #3a23v — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1258 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rooks e1/e2; bishop d3; pawns a4/b5/d4/e3/g3/h2. Black: king h5; queen f6; rooks e8/f8; bishop a8; pawns a5/b6/d5/f4/g4/g5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f3 — pawn f4→f3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d7→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Qh6 (queen f6→h6).
  3. Best move: Bg6# — bishop d3→g6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Bg6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: b3rr2/3Q4/1p3q2/pP1p2pk/P2P1pp1/3BP1P1/4R2P/4R1K1 b - - 1 38

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