Chess Puzzle #L6kNw — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1423 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king b1; rooks h1/h3; bishop d4; pawns b2/b3/c3/e4/g2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; pawns a7/c6/d5/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh8 (bishop g7→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxh8# — rook h1→h8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p4pb1/2p3p1/3p2q1/3BP3/1PP4R/1P4P1/1K5R b - - 1 26

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