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

Rating 1449 · Intermediate · double check, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rook e1; knight f7; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen f6; rook a8; bishops b7/d6; pawns a7/b6/c5/d4/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook a8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng5+ — knight f7→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen d7→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

double check, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/pb1Q1N1k/1p1b1qpp/2p5/3p4/7P/PPP2PP1/4R1K1 b - - 2 23

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