Chess Puzzle #3K5pW — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1423 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b2; rooks d1/f8; pawns a2/b3/c4/e3/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rook a6; bishop e2; pawns b4/b7/c5/e4/f7/h4. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxf8 — king g8→f8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen b2→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  3. Best move: Qd8# — queen h8→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5Rk1/1p3p2/r3q3/2p5/1pP1p2p/1P2P3/PQ2bPP1/3R2K1 b - - 0 25

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