Chess Puzzle #JCY39 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1402 · Intermediate · attraction, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e6; rook e1; pawns a3/g2/g6/h2. Black: king h8; queen c2; rook d8; pawns a7/b6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook d8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg8+ — queen e6→g8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg8 (king h8→g8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re8# — rook e1→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/p5p1/1p2Q1Pp/8/8/P7/2q3PP/4R2K b - - 0 30

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