Chess Puzzle #BSs1p — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1428 · Intermediate · deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d3/e8; bishop h6; knight c3; pawns a2/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks d4/f8; bishop f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd3 — rook d4→d3, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen e2→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4Rrk1/pp4pp/2p2b1B/q7/3r4/2NR3P/P1P1QPP1/2K5 b - - 0 22

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