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

Rating 1499 · Intermediate · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/g3; bishop c2; pawns a2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishops f5/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc2 — bishop f5→c2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h5→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bh7 (bishop c2→h7).
  3. Best move: Qxf6# — queen h6→f6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/pppq1p2/5b1p/3p1b1Q/3P4/2P3R1/P1B2PPP/R5K1 b - - 1 18

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