Chess Puzzle #8E1z5 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1425 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, swallowstail mate.

Position

White: king d2; queen f3; rook h1; bishop d3; pawns a2/c3/c4/d4/f2/g2. Black: king h7; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; knight c6; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/f5/g7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg6 — king h7→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen f3→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g6→f6).
  3. Best move: Qxf5# — queen h5→f5, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, swallowstail mate. The combination ends with Qxf5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/p1ppq1pk/1pn5/5p2/2PP4/2PB1Q2/P2K1PP1/7R b - - 1 17

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