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

Rating 1481 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen d2; rooks d1/f1; bishop b2; pawns a3/b4/c5/e4/f5/g4/h3. Black: king h8; queen e6; rooks d8/f8; bishop h4; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d3/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen e6→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen d2→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen h6→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r1k/1p3pp1/p1n1q2p/2P2P2/1P2P1Pb/P2p3P/1B1Q3K/3R1R2 b - - 0 23

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