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

Rating 1062 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks d1/d4; bishop e3; knight f7; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2. Black: king c8; queen c2; rook h8; knight e4; pawns a6/b7/c7/f5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook h8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook e8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/1pp2Np1/p6p/5p2/3Rn3/4B3/PPq2PP1/3R2K1 b - - 1 18

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.