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

Rating 923 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen d3; rook d6; bishop e3; knight f7; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/f3/g3. Black: king c8; queen b7; rook f8; bishop c5; knight e7; pawns a6/b5/c4/e6/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe3 — bishop c5→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d6→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook f8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen d3→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k2r2/1q2nNp1/p2Rp3/1pb1P3/2p5/2PQBPP1/PP4K1/8 b - - 0 26

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