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

Rating 1449 · Intermediate · deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen e6; rook f3; knight e7; pawns a4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen c1; rooks a8/f8; pawns a6/b7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf3 — rook f8→f3, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen e6→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen g6→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/1p2N2k/p3Q2p/6p1/P7/5R1P/5PPK/2q5 b - - 4 30

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