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

Rating 865 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks e1/e3; knight c5; pawns a2/b3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks d7/d8; knight e4; pawns a5/b4/c3/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight e4→c5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e3→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/2qr1ppp/8/p1Np4/1p1Qn3/1Pp1R2P/P4PP1/4R1K1 b - - 1 33

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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