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

Rating 1426 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g2; rooks h1/h6; pawns a2/c3/d4/e5. Black: king g8; rooks a8/c8; bishop e7; pawns a5/d5/e6/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ba3 — bishop e7→a3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h6→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: R1h7# — rook h1→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with R1h7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/4b3/4p1pR/p2pP3/3P4/2P5/P5K1/7R b - - 0 37

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