Chess Puzzle #1Oua1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1268 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks d1/e1; knight e4; pawns f2/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen a5; rooks c7/c8; knight b4; pawns b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen h4→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2k2/1pr2ppp/4p3/q7/1n2N2Q/7P/5PP1/3RR1K1 b - - 5 27

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