Chess Puzzle #JpA3J — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1476 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king d1; queen e5; rook g1; knight b3; pawns a2/c4/d3/e4. Black: king h8; queen h6; rooks b2/f8; pawns a6/b4/c5/d4. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen h6→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen e5→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Qh6 (queen f6→h6).
  3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h5→h6, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/8/p6q/2p1Q3/1pPpP3/1N1P4/Pr6/3K2R1 b - - 1 41

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