Chess Puzzle #4gnNE — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1450 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop c4; knights f7/g3; pawns a4/b2/c2/d3/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/e8; bishops b7/e7; knight f6; pawns a6/b6/c5/e6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxf7 — king g8→f7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen e2→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king f7→f8).
  3. Best move: Qf7# — queen e6→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/1bq1bNp1/pp2pn1p/2p5/P1B2P2/3P2NP/1PP1Q1P1/R4RK1 b - - 0 17

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