Chess Puzzle #84ItP — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1439 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen g6; rook f1; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e3; rook a8; bishop b7; pawns a7/c5/e6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook a8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen g6→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Qh6 (queen e3→h6).
  3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h5→h6, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r6k/pb6/4p1Q1/2p1P3/8/2P1q3/PP4PP/5R1K b - - 3 24

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