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

Rating 1568 · Intermediate · attraction, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e7; rook e1; bishop b5; pawns a2/b2/d5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d4; rook f8; bishop g6; pawns a7/c5/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen d4→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen e7→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, 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: 5rk1/p3Qppp/3p2b1/1BpP4/3q4/7P/PP4P1/4R2K b - - 7 28

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