Chess Puzzle #0o4Kc — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1199 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen g5; rooks c1/c8; knight e3; pawns b2/e5/f3/g4/h3. Black: king e8; queen b4; rooks a8/h8; knight g8; pawns a5/b7/d5/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc8 — rook a8→c8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
  3. Best move: Qd8# — queen g5→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1R1k1nr/1p3p2/4p1p1/p2pP1Q1/1q4P1/4NP1P/1P4K1/2R5 b kq - 2 30

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.