Chess Puzzle #1J9NZ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 761 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rooks d1/f1; bishop e3; pawns a3/b4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen e5; rooks c4/h8; knight e4; pawns a6/b7/c7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f7→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook h8→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/1ppQ1ppp/p3p3/4q3/1Pr1n3/P3B3/5PPP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 26

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