Chess Puzzle #Mis0X — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1496 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king d1; queen h6; rook h2; pawns b5/d2/e3. Black: king g8; queen g3; rooks a8/e6; pawns b7/c5/d4/g6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rae8 — rook a8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h6→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Rh7# — rook h2→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1p6/4r1pQ/1Pp5/3p4/4P1q1/3P3R/3K4 b - - 3 52

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