Chess Puzzle #3nB2z — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1224 · Intermediate · clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e4; rook f5; bishop c2; pawns a2/b2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e7; rook e8; bishops e3/g8; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/d4/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bh7 — bishop g8→h7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f5→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Bg8 (bishop h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen e4→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4r1bk/pp2q1p1/7p/4nR2/3pQ3/4b2P/PPB3P1/7K b - - 3 31

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