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

Rating 502 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; rooks d1/h1; bishops e2/g5; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/f6/g2/h5. Black: king g8; rooks a8/e8; bishops f5/h8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook e8→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e5→e8).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn2r1kb/pp3p1p/2p2Pp1/4NbBP/2P5/8/PP2BPP1/3RK2R b K - 0 17

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