Chess Puzzle #95qQ6 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1412 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e2; queen d3; rook h3; bishop f5; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2. Black: king h8; queen g2; rooks e8/g8; knight c7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f6/f7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg7 — king h8→g7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxf7# — rook h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1rk/ppn2p2/2p2p2/3pNB2/3P4/2PQ3R/PP2KPq1/8 b - - 12 26

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