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

Rating 941 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/e1; bishop d3; pawns a2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks c5/c8; bishop e6; pawns a7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxh3 — bishop e6→h3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook c8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/p4ppp/4b3/2rp2q1/8/3B3P/P3QPP1/R3R1K1 b - - 2 21

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