Chess Puzzle #2SRmd — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1265 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen b7; rooks d1/h1; bishop f2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f5/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen h6; rook e2; bishop d6; pawns a7/c7/f6/g5/h7. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rhe1 — rook h1→e1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h6→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g2→f1).
  3. Best move: Rxf2# — rook e2→f2, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/pQp4p/3b1p1q/5Pp1/3P2P1/2P5/PP2rBKP/3R3R w - - 1 26

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