Chess Puzzle #8Y6XX — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1517 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rook g3; bishops d3/e5; pawns a2/b3/f2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook f8; bishops c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd3 — queen d8→d3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook g3→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxg7 (bishop f6→g7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen h6→g7, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3q1rk1/pp3pp1/2b2b1Q/4B3/8/1P1B2R1/P4P1P/6K1 b - - 0 21

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