Chess Puzzle #8cRz5 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1442 · Intermediate · deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g3; rooks e7/e8; knight h8; pawns f4/g4/h3. Black: king g7; queen d4; bishop d5; pawns b5/c6/f5/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh6 — king g7→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: g5+ — pawn g4→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king h6→h5).
  3. Best move: Rxh7# — rook e7→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4R2N/4R1kp/2p5/1p1b1p2/3q1PP1/6KP/8/8 b - - 2 34

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