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

Rating 1414 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks d2/f1; bishops b2/d5; knight f4; pawns a3/b3/c4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks d8/f8; bishops d6/f5; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/c5/e5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exf4 — pawn e5→f4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h5→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bh7 (bishop f5→h7).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen h6→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r1k/ppq1n1p1/3b3p/2pBpb1Q/2P2N2/PP4P1/1B1R1P1P/5RK1 b - - 2 24

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