Chess Puzzle #0lbe3 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 609 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d8; rook d1; bishop f5; knight e3; pawns a2/c3/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b7; rook e7; bishop g5; knight c6; pawns a7/b5/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd8 — knight c6→d8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e7→e8).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook d8→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: 3Q2k1/pq2rpp1/2n4p/1p2pBb1/4P3/2P1N1P1/P4P1P/3R2K1 b - - 5 25

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.