Chess Puzzle #1d0ST — Beginner, White to move, endgame

Rating 970 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rook e3; pawn g2. Black: king f8; queen f4; bishops c6/g7; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a7→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen h3→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Be8 (bishop c6→e8).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e3→e8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/pp3pb1/2b3p1/8/5q2/4R2Q/6P1/7K b - - 3 33

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