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

Rating 1563 · Intermediate · double check, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; rooks f1/f2; bishop g3; knight g6; pawns a4/b2/c3/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen e7; rooks c8/e8; bishops e6/g7; knights c6/d7; pawns a5/b7/c4/d5/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg5 — queen e7→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf8+ — knight g6→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen b1→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r1r3/1p1nq1bk/2n1b1Np/p2pP3/P1pP4/2P3B1/1P3RPP/1Q3RK1 b - - 0 31

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