Chess Puzzle #2RSlY — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1341 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e7; rook d7; bishop f1; pawns a2/b4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c1; rooks b6/e4; bishop e5; pawns a7/c7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf6 — rook b6→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  3. Best move: Qf8# — queen e7→f8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p1pRQp1p/1r4p1/4b3/1P2r3/6P1/P4P1P/2q2BK1 b - - 1 26

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