Chess Puzzle #5QEg5 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1308 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king c2; queen d3; knights f6/g5; pawns a3/c4/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen h1; rooks a8/e8; bishop g7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf6 — bishop g7→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen d3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/ppp2pbp/3p1N2/6N1/2P4P/P2Q4/2K3P1/7q b - - 1 23

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