Chess Puzzle #12Xfh — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 582 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/e7; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen f4; rook h8; bishops d4/f5; knight d7; pawns a6/b7/c7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook h8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook f8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen e2→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/1ppnR2p/p5p1/5b2/3b1q2/2N5/PPP1QPPP/R5K1 b - - 1 15

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