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

Rating 1470 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen g3; rooks b3/h2; bishop c1; pawns a3/d4/e5/f4/g5/h3. Black: king b5; queen h8; rooks h4/h5; bishop c6; pawns a6/c4/d5/e6/f5/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxb3 — pawn c4→b3, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb3+ — queen g3→b3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka5 (king b5→a5).
  3. Best move: Qb4# — queen b3→b4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qb4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7q/5p2/p1b1p3/1k1pPpPr/2pP1P1r/PR4QP/6KR/2B5 b - - 0 35

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