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

Rating 731 · Beginner · hanging piece, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b6; rooks a1/e2; bishop g2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f5. Black: king g8; queen g3; rooks d8/e8; bishop b7; knight g4; pawns a6/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe2 — rook e8→e2, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen b6→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e2→e8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

hanging piece, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/1b3ppp/pQ6/3p1P2/3P2n1/2N3q1/PP2R1B1/R5K1 b - - 2 26

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