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

Rating 1416 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen f3; rooks d1/h1; bishop f5; knights d2/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/d4; knight c6; pawns a6/b5/c7/d7/e7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf5 — pawn g6→f5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen f3→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qf7# — queen h5→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/1bppp2p/p1n3p1/1p3BN1/3b4/5Q2/PPPN1PPP/2KR3R b kq - 0 12

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