Chess Puzzle #Jeu8d — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1481 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e6; rook f1; bishop a3; knight f6; pawns a2/b3/c4/d2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen g3; rooks d7/f8; bishop a1; knight e2; pawns a7/c5/d3/e7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf6 — rook f8→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg8+ — queen e6→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f6→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen g8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4kr2/p2rp2p/4QNp1/2p5/2P5/BP1p2qP/P2Pn1P1/b4R1K b - - 1 25

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