Chess Puzzle #z5zbF — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2217 · Expert · deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rook e1; knight f5; pawns a4/b5/c2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rook a8; bishops b6/b7; pawns a5/c7/d6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc8 — bishop b7→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen f7→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen g4→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1bp2qpp/1b1p1p2/pP3N2/P5Q1/6P1/2P2P1P/4R1K1 b - - 0 23

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