Chess Puzzle #1Tb4a — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 622 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, opera mate, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h7; rook f3; bishop g7; pawns a2/b2/c2/f6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rook d7; knight e7; pawns a7/b5/c4/e6/g6. White is ahead by 1 point 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 f3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Rh8# — rook h3→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p2rnqBQ/4pPp1/1p6/2p5/5R2/PPP3PP/7K b - - 0 29

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