Chess Puzzle #VNHd5 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1993 · Advanced · discovered attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e2; queen g6; rooks b1/f1; bishop e3; pawns a3/b2/c2/d4/f5/g4/h2. Black: king f8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops d7/e7; knights c6/g8; pawns a7/b7/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh6 — rook h8→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: fxe6+ — pawn f5→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nf6 (knight g8→f6).
  3. Best move: Qf7# — queen g6→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1knr/pp1bb1p1/2n1p1Q1/5P2/3P2P1/P3B3/1PP1K2P/1R3R2 b - - 0 22

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