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

Rating 1567 · Intermediate · attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king f3; rooks h1/h8; bishop f6; pawns b6/g3/g6. Black: king f8; rooks e4/e8; bishop g8; pawns b7/d3/e2. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e1=Q — pawn e2→e1, promotes to queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg8+ — rook h8→g8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg8 (king f8→g8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rh8# — rook h1→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rkbR/1p6/1P3BP1/8/4r3/3p1KP1/4p3/7R b - - 1 53

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