Chess Puzzle #470SJ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1318 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks a1/f1; bishop e5; pawns a5/b4/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen c6; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd7 — rook d8→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen f7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook d7→d8).
  3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen e8→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r1b1r/ppp2Qpp/2q1p3/P3B3/1P6/8/2P2PPP/R4RK1 b - - 2 18

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