Chess Puzzle #6q8m5 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1422 · Intermediate · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen a3; rook f3; bishops a1/c4; knight h5; pawns e3/g2/h4. Black: king h8; queen g6; rook f5; bishop b7; knight c6; pawns b6/c7/e5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh5 — queen g6→h5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen a3→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook f5→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f3→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short, X-ray attack. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/1bp3pp/1pn3q1/4pr1N/2B4P/Q3PR2/6P1/B6K b - - 0 26

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