Chess Puzzle #1AirY — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 915 · Beginner · endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rook e1; bishop d3; pawns a3/b2/f2/h3/h5. Black: king g8; queen h4; rook d8; knight c6; pawns a7/b6/c5/c7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight c6→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e3→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/p1p2pp1/1pn4p/2p4P/7q/P2BQ2P/1P3P2/4R1K1 b - - 1 26

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