Overloaded defender exercises

One piece is asked to guard two things and cannot do both. Play the winning move on the board below. Each position is verified: the solution is the strongest move, and the write-up tells you exactly what it wins. Read the full overloaded defender guide first if the pattern is new to you.

Solved 0 of 1 · first-try accuracy 0%

1. Exercise 1: White to play: end the game.

   Position (FEN): 4r1k1/5ppp/8/8/8/8/1Q3PPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 1

   8

   7

   6

   5

   4

   3

   2

   1a

   b

   c

   d

   e

   f

   g

   h

   White to play: end the game.

   easy · forced mate

   Hint 1Show solution
   Written solution

   Rxe8# — Rxe8# removes the overloaded defender and mates: the e8 rook had to guard the back rank and shield its king at the same time, so once it disappears there is nothing left to stop the check.