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

Rating 1428 · Intermediate · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, swallowstail mate.

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/f2/f5/h3. Black: king e7; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight c4; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bg5+ — bishop c1→g5, gives check. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f7→f6).
  3. Best move: Qxe6# — queen c6→e6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, swallowstail mate. The combination ends with Qxe6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1b1r/p3kppp/2Q1p3/3p1P2/2n5/7P/PP3P2/RNB2RK1 b - - 0 16

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