Chess Puzzle #FO8zo — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1447 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rooks f1/f7; bishop b2; pawns a3/b5/d3/d5/e4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks c8/f8; bishops b6/h7; pawns a5/b3/b7/d6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f7→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1p3Rpb/1b1p3p/pP1P4/4P1Pq/Pp1P1Q1P/1B5K/5R2 b - - 0 24

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