Chess Puzzle #MDf6S — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1741 · Advanced · deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks e1/f3; bishop b2; pawns a2/b3/c5/f2/g3/h4. Black: king h8; queen h3; rooks e7/e8; pawns a7/c7/e4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exf3 — pawn e4→f3, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen d4→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg7 (rook e7→g7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/p1p1r1pp/8/2P5/3Qp2P/1P3RPq/PB3P2/4R1K1 b - - 0 30

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