Chess Puzzle #3i91t — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1298 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks e1/e6; pawns a3/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks d8/f4; bishop f6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf5 — queen d5→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/pp4p1/2n1RbQp/3q4/5r2/P1P5/5PPP/4R1K1 b - - 4 25

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