Chess Puzzle #0Tek8 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 639 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c1/e1; bishop d3; pawns a3/b4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks d8/f8; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfe8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e2→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pb3pp1/1p5p/6q1/1P6/P2B1P2/4Q1PP/2R1R1K1 b - - 2 23

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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