Chess Puzzle #17EOu — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 600 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rook e1; bishops b2/f5; knight f3; pawns a3/b3/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c7; bishops c6/d6; knight f7; pawns a7/b6/c5/d4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf3 — bishop c6→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop d6→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/p1q2npp/1pbb4/2p2B2/3p4/PPP2N1P/1B3PP1/4R1K1 b - - 2 26

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.