Chess Puzzle #18BRA — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 806 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d1; queen h3; rooks f1/f7; pawns a2/c2/d3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king d8; queen c3; rooks a8/g8; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe5 — queen c3→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook g8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2k2r1/ppp1nRp1/3p4/7p/4P3/2qP3Q/P1P3PP/3K1R2 b - - 3 20

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