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

Rating 1426 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h7; rooks e3/g5; bishops b2/d3; pawns a2/b3/c2/d2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops e4/e7; knight e8; pawns a6/b7/c5/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king g8→h7, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh3+ — rook e3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Rh8# — rook h3→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3nrk1/1pq1bp1Q/p3p1p1/2p3R1/4b3/1P1BR3/PBPP1PPP/6K1 b - - 0 19

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