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

Rating 793 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen e7; rooks d1/e1; bishop d6; pawns a3/f2/g4/h3. Black: king d8; queen b7; rooks a8/h8; knights c5/d7; pawns a4/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc8 — king d8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook h8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2k3r/1q1nQ1p1/3B2p1/2n5/p5P1/P6P/5P2/2KRR3 b - - 1 29

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