Chess Puzzle #0CRGH — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 924 · Beginner · endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, opera mate, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rook f1; bishop d6; pawns a4/b3/c2/e3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook c8; bishop c3; pawns a7/b7/d4/d5/e4/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe3 — pawn d4→e3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f2→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook c8→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, opera mate, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/pp1q2pp/3Bp3/3pP3/P2pp3/1Pb1P3/2P2QPP/5RK1 b - - 7 26

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