Chess Puzzle #FzMzt — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2206 · Expert · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen f4; rooks c1/h1; knights c3/g5; pawns a4/d3/g2/h5. Black: king f6; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishops f5/g7; knight e7; pawns c6/d5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bh6 — bishop g7→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd4+ — queen f4→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg5 (king f6→g5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh4# — queen d4→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6r/3qn1b1/2p2k2/3p1bNP/P4Q2/2NP4/6P1/2R1K2R b K - 0 23

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