Chess Puzzle #1Vnz4 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 813 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks d1/e3; knight f6; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop d5; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf6 — queen d8→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e3→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen e2→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/pp3ppp/5N2/3b4/8/4R2P/PP2QPP1/3R2K1 b - - 1 20

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