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

Rating 1006 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen e4; rooks d1/d3; pawns a3/c5/e6/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen h2; rooks c8/h5; bishop c3; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re5 — rook h5→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d3→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/pp3pp1/4P2p/2P4r/4Q3/P1bR4/5PPq/3R1K2 b - - 0 26

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