Chess Puzzle #cdgz5 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2223 · Expert · attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen h1; rook h7; bishop d3; knight d4; pawns a3/c3/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen f2; rook f8; bishop d7; knight e3; pawns a7/b6/e5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f6 — pawn f7→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook h7→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen h1→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short, swallowstail mate. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p2b1ppR/1p6/4p3/3N4/P1PBn1P1/5qP1/2K4Q b - - 1 23

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