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

Rating 720 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e8; rooks d1/e1; bishop h6; knight f3; pawns a3/b4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks a8/f7; bishop b6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/f6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe8 — rook a8→e8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3Q1k1/pp3r1p/1bn2ppB/5q2/1P6/P4N1P/5PP1/3RR1K1 b - - 8 23

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