Chess Puzzle #4HBPE — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1250 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks f1/f3; pawns a2/d4/h2/h6. Black: king g6; queen b2; rooks b6/f8; pawns a6/d5/f6/f7/g5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh6 — king g6→h6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh3+ — rook f3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h6→g7).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen d3→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/5p2/pr3pkP/3p2p1/3P4/3Q1R2/Pq5P/5RK1 b - - 2 34

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