Chess Puzzle #0W3wN — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 765 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks d1/g3; pawns a3/b2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen g6; rooks c2/c8; pawns a6/b5/e6/f6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf5 — queen g6→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r4k/5p1p/p3ppq1/1p6/3Q4/P5RP/1Pr2PP1/3R2K1 b - - 7 27

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