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

Rating 1446 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks b1/b6; pawns a4/d4/e3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen c2; rooks d8/e8; knight g6; pawns a7/f6/g7/h4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb6 — pawn a7→b6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb6+ — queen e6→b6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
  3. Best move: Qb7# — queen b6→b7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qb7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1rr3/p5p1/1R2Qpn1/8/P2P3p/4PP2/2q3PP/1R4K1 b - - 0 27

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