Chess Puzzle #3DcOH — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1508 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen c3; rook g6; bishops c4/e3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/f5/h3. Black: king h7; queen c8; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knights c6/h5; pawns a6/b7/c7/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf5 — queen c8→f5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh6+ — rook g6→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Rh8# — rook h6→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1q2r2/1pp1bp1k/p1n3R1/5P1n/2B1N3/2QPB2P/PPP2P1K/8 b - - 0 23

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