Chess Puzzle #3v8sM — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1058 · Beginner · deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen f6; rook g2; knight g6; pawns a4/b3/c3/d4/f3. Black: king h7; queen e1; rook f8; bishop a6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg6 — pawn f7→g6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen f6→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen g6→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/pp3p1k/b1p2QNp/3p4/P2P4/1PP2P2/6RK/4q3 b - - 0 39

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