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

Rating 1413 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen e3; rook e5; pawns b3/d7/g3/h3. Black: king f8; queen a3; rook d8; bishop g2; pawns a7/b5/c4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc6 — bishop g2→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen e3→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1k2/p2P1ppp/8/1p2R3/2p5/qP2Q1PP/6bK/8 b - - 0 33

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