Chess Puzzle #1Yj1T — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 826 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen c3; rooks e1/f2; knight f7; pawns a3/b4/f3/h2. Black: king h8; queen b6; rooks f8/g5; knight h5; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/pp3Npp/1qp5/6rn/1P6/P1Q2P2/5R1P/4RK2 b - - 12 30

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