Chess Puzzle #9WS9S — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1408 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e2; queen f4; rooks h1/h8; bishop g6; pawns c3/e3/f2/g4. Black: king f8; queen a3; rooks a8/e7; bishops c8/g7; pawns a7/b7/d4/d5/f6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxh8 — bishop g7→h8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook h1→h8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
  3. Best move: Qh6# — queen f4→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2k1R/pp2r1b1/5pB1/3p4/3p1QP1/q1P1P3/4KP2/7R b - - 5 33

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