Chess Puzzle #6n24S — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1493 · Intermediate · back rank mate, hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; rooks a5/f2; bishop f3; pawns b2/c3/d4/e5/g2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks b8/g7; bishop d3; pawns d5/e6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa5 — queen d8→a5, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen d6→b8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen a5→d8).
  3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen b8→d8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r1q2k1/5prp/3Qp3/R2pP3/3P4/2Pb1B2/1P3RP1/6K1 b - - 2 29

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