Chess Puzzle #6oDES — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1410 · Intermediate · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen d6; rooks c1/e1; knight c7; pawns a2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks b8/f8; bishop c8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/d7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf2 — queen h4→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen d6→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re8# — rook e1→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Re8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1rb2rk1/ppNp1ppp/2nQ4/8/7q/8/P1P2PPP/2R1R2K b - - 2 14

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