Chess Puzzle #0la8o — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 873 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rooks c3/e1; bishops c6/e3; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king b8; queen f6; rook h8; bishops c7/f5; knight h7; pawns b6/e5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxa7 — king b8→a7, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ra3+ — rook c3→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king a7→b8).
  3. Best move: Ra8# — rook a3→a8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short. The combination ends with Ra8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/Q1b2ppn/1pB2q1p/4pb2/8/2R1B2P/PP3PP1/4R1K1 b - - 0 32

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