Chess Puzzle #1ota3 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1103 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; rook e4; bishop d5; pawns c4/d3/g5/h4. Black: king h8; rook a2; knight e3; pawns a5/b6/c5/d4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e4→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  3. Best move: Rg8# — rook e8→g8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/7p/1p4p1/p1pB2P1/2PpR2P/3Pn3/r7/6K1 b - - 0 37

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