Chess Puzzle #A0ROq — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1541 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e7; rooks e1/f4; knight g5; pawns f2/g4/h6. Black: king g8; queen d2; rooks a2/f8; knight b5; pawns c5/f7/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf4 — queen d2→f4, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: h7+ — pawn h6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e7→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/4Qpp1/7P/1np3N1/5RP1/8/r2q1P2/4R1K1 b - - 0 32

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