Chess Puzzle #M9Iy9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1590 · Intermediate · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queens d2/h8; rooks d1/h1; bishop c4; knights c1/g1; pawns b2/f3/g4. Black: king g7; queen a8; rooks a3/f8; bishop b7; knights c5/d5; pawns b3/d6/e4/f7. White is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxh8 — rook f8→h8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg5+ — queen d2→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxh8# — rook h1→h8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: q4r1Q/1b3pk1/3p4/2nn4/2B1p1P1/rp3P2/1P1Q4/1KNR2NR b - - 0 23

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