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

Rating 498 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/e1; bishop h6; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks a8/d8; bishops b6/c8; pawns a6/b7/c6/c7/f6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg6 — queen f5→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1br2k1/1pp2p1p/pbp2p1B/5q2/3P4/2P5/PP2QPPP/RN2R1K1 b - - 5 16

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