Chess Puzzle #1iX9K — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1279 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rooks f1/g6; bishop d3; pawns a2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d6; rooks a8/f8; bishops d5/f6; pawns a7/c6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bg8 — bishop d5→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg8+ — rook g6→g8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg8 (rook f8→g8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h3→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/p6p/2pq1bR1/3b4/8/3B3Q/P1P3PP/5R1K b - - 0 29

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