Chess Puzzle #00Lvv — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1127 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen h5; rook d1; bishop e3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/e4/g2/h4. Black: king c8; queen d3; rooks d7/g8; bishop f8; knight e7; pawns a6/b7/c7/e5/f6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe3 — queen d3→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen h5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook d7→d8).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k2br1/1pprn3/p4p2/4p2Q/4P2P/2NqB3/PP4PK/3R4 b - - 1 22

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