Chess Puzzle #0w54A — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 855 · Beginner · endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rooks d4/e1; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen c7; rook h8; bishop c8; knight f6; pawns f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa7 — queen c7→a7, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Ne8 (knight f6→e8).
  3. Best move: Rexe8# — rook e1→e8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rexe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2b2k1r/Q1q2ppp/5n2/8/3R4/8/PP3PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 22

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