Chess Puzzle #ITA2K — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1552 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen h6; rook h1; bishop g6; pawns a2/b2/c3/d5/f3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks c4/c8; knight g1; pawns a7/b5/d6/e5/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg6 — pawn h7→g6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h6→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Rh7# — rook h1→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/p3q2p/3p2BQ/1p1Pp3/2r5/2P2P2/PP6/1K4nR b - - 0 26

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