Chess Puzzle #AzU8q — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1572 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks d1/f8; pawns a4/b2/d5/e6. Black: king e8; queen c2; rook g2; bishop c5; knight a6; pawns a5/b6/c6/h2. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf8 — bishop c5→f8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f3→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
  3. Best move: Qd7# — queen f7→d7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qd7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4kR2/8/npp1P3/p1bP4/P7/5Q2/1Pq3rp/3R3K b - - 1 35

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