Chess Puzzle #8MbuC — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1770 · Advanced · discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e5; rooks d1/h1; bishop c3; knight f6; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishops b4/d7; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf6 — pawn g7→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen e5→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Bxf6# — bishop c3→f6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Bxf6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp1b1ppp/1q2pN2/4Q3/1b6/2B5/PPP2PPP/2KR3R b - - 0 16

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