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

Rating 1469 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen h4; rooks f8/h1; bishop g2; knight g1; pawns a2/e4/f3. Black: king g8; queen e5; rook b2; bishops d4/e6; pawns a7/f7/g6. White is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxf8 — king g8→f8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen h4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen d8→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5Rk1/p4p2/4b1p1/4q3/3bP2Q/5P2/Pr4B1/5KNR b - - 0 28

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