Chess Puzzle #7QMAX — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1533 · Intermediate · discovered attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen f5; rooks a1/h3; bishop h5; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/f2/g2/h6. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop h8; knights f6/g5; pawns a5/b7/c6/d6/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh6 — king h7→h6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop h5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh3 (knight g5→h3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qg6# — queen f5→g6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qg6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r1b/1p3p1k/2pp1n1P/p2PpQnB/2P5/7R/PP3PP1/R3K3 b Q - 1 19

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