Chess Puzzle #1NGM4 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 467 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks a1/e1; bishop h6; knights d5/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/e8; bishop f6; knights c5/h5; pawns a5/b6/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd5 — pawn e6→d5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e3→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/2q2p1p/1p2pbpB/p1nN3n/8/4QN1P/PPP2PP1/R3R1K1 b - - 7 20

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