Chess Puzzle #8v9T2 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1469 · Intermediate · attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; rooks e5/e8; bishop e4; knight d6; pawns f3/g2/h4. Black: king g8; rooks c3/f8; bishop b3; knight c5; pawns a7/b6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f6 — pawn f7→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook e8→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Re8# — rook e5→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4Rrk1/p4pp1/1p1N3p/2n1R3/4B2P/1br2P2/6PK/8 b - - 6 34

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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