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

Rating 1427 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks a1/g1; bishop e5; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c3/d6/f3/h3. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks c8/g8; bishops b7/g5; pawns a5/b4/c4/d7/e6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe4 — bishop b7→e4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen h5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Rg7 (rook g8→g7).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f7→g7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2rq2r1/1b1p3k/3Pp2p/p3B1bQ/1pp1N3/2P2P1P/PP6/R5RK b - - 2 31

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