Chess Puzzle #1Bf61 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1437 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen h8; rooks h1/h3; bishop d3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/g4. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/e6; bishop d4; pawns a7/b7/c5/f7/g6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxh8 — bishop d4→h8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook h3→h8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  3. Best move: R1h7# — rook h1→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with R1h7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rq2kQ/pp3p2/4r1p1/2p5/3bN1P1/3B3R/PPP5/2K4R b - - 1 27

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