Chess Puzzle #M6d13 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2462 · Master · epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen h7; rook h8; knight e2; pawns a4/b3/f4/g2/g5. Black: king g6; queen e6; rook e7; bishop d7; knight d5; pawns a5/b7/d6/f5/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf7 — king g6→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg8+ — queen h7→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king f7→g6).
  3. Best move: Rh6# — rook h8→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Rh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7R/1p1br1pQ/3pq1k1/p2n1pP1/P4P2/1P6/4NKP1/8 b - - 5 34

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