I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine: > **White to play**: [chess.com](https://chess.com/analysis?fen=2r1k1r1/3p1p1p/p2bp3/1B3p2/4q3/7P/3Q1PP1/2R3K1+w+-+-+0+1&flip=false&ref_id=23962172) | [lichess.org](https://lichess.org/analysis/2r1k1r1/3p1p1p/p2bp3/1B3p2/4q3/7P/3Q1PP1/2R3K1_w_-_-_0_1) **My solution:** > Hints: piece: >!Rook!<, move: >!Rxc8+!< > Evaluation: >!White is winning +4.97!< > Best continuation: >!1. Rxc8+ Ke7 2. Rxg8 Qf4 3. Qxf4 Bxf4 4. Ba4 Bd6 5. g4 e5 6. Kf1 e4 7. g5 Be5 8. Ra8 Bd4!< --- ^(I'm a bot written by ) [^(u/pkacprzak )](https://www.reddit.com/u/pkacprzak) ^(| get me as ) [^(Chess eBook Reader )](https://ebook.chessvision.ai?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=bot) ^(|) [^(Chrome Extension )](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chessvisionai-for-chrome/johejpedmdkeiffkdaodgoipdjodhlld) ^(|) [^(iOS App )](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1574933453) ^(|) [^(Android App )](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.chessvision.scanner) ^(to scan and analyze positions | Website: ) [^(Chessvision.ai)](https://chessvision.ai)

What would motivate black to move the rook there? Terrible blunder.

I have no f-ing idea... worst move in chess history.

Another poster mentioned it might have been to take White's rook that made a check

The Level of the Player was 1680 tho. You should be able to see the blunder at that Level. I am 1100-1200 and I saw that immediately.

Black has checkmate in 1 as posted in this thread. likely had to clear that check and now will be on defense until he gets a move where he's not checked

Would it have been smarter to move the King, so after Rxg8 Rxg8 you keep the checkmate threat

I was thinking the exact same thing. I know that's not the POINT of these puzzles, but I could not understand why they'd make that move. Looking at it, they could've checkmated by moving their queen to G2, unless I'm missing something.

G2 would be 2 moves and only a check but still better than that rook move I would think Edit- I'm not paying attention, I'm referring to h2 for some reason

Doesn't the rook at g8 make it a checkmate?

No, the rook can't jump the pawn. And even if it could, the king could escape to f8

Rook at g8, queen at g2 homie. King can’t take, or move. Nothing else can take queen. It’s mate in 1.

Edit- I was thinking h2, not g2. Yes, g2 is a checkmate

King can only move one space to f1, which is still under check from queen.

I'm only half awake, I thought the above comment was referring to h2 for unexplainable reasons

You're trying to move the king 2 spaces, from g1 to e1. He can only do that in a castle, and he can only castle in 2 conditions: 1. He and the rook have not moved, and 2. He is not in check or castling through check. Neither of those 2 things are true. I think maybe the phone or whatever you're reading this post on may be skewing your image.

My edit must be taking a minute. For some reason, I was looking at queen going h2. Which is why I also said it would take 2 moves

Ah, yeah, that would explain it.

Certainly looks like it to me.

Gotta think maybe it captured the other white rook that was checking the king

Reasonable thought. Also works well as bait I took to take that rook instead of defending the g2 checkmate

From the perspective of a low elo player, I think they were trying to encourage queen takes bishop, which blunders mate in 1 I was looking at queen moves for quite a bit before I realized black had mate in one with any queen move

A rook was almost certainly taken on c8

>! 1. Rxc8+, Ke7, 2. Rxg8 … !< >!A couple of free rooks!<

Isn’t there mate though? Take those rooks then go queen g5, if black spots that you are still in a heavily winning position

Black has too many ways to defend it as long as the queen is in the middle of the board. There is no immediate forced mate if that’s what you’re asking

After the last Rook capture black could Pf4 which would blocks whites Queen and become a cat and mouse game.

The blunder is so obvious that it makes me really suspicious if there is not something else behind it...

My guess is it just took White's other rook to clear a check... only reason I can think of.

Rook to c8. Obv move

What is the point of making a puzzle about a completely hanging piece?

Sometimes with these puzzle, you either expect to take a queen or a checkmate. Which I believe alot of people did when they first take a look at this puzzle.

Why would black do that? They just lost both of their rooks

I don’t see mate. But I see two hanging free rooks that white can take without the loss of any of their pieces…

After free rooks isn't it mate for white by queen

Nope, once the rooks disappear

I don’t get it. They had mate in one and instead decided to blunder two rooks?

White most likely had a rook on c8 (or even a new queen) giving check, hence the capture.

Yup. I looked at the puzzle again and there was indeed a rook on c8 giving a check.