Chess Puzzle #Lcy52 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1540 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen e5; rook e1; bishop d4; pawns b4/c3/f2/f6/h2. Black: king g8; queen g2; rooks b8/c7; bishop c4; pawns c6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook b8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: f7+ — pawn f6→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf7 (bishop c4→f7, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen e5→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/2r4p/2p2Pp1/4Q3/1PbB4/2P5/3K1PqP/4R3 b - - 1 27

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