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

Rating 899 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks a5/f1; pawns b2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks e8/f6; pawns b5/c4/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe3 — rook e8→e3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a5→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e3→e8).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook a8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/5pp1/5r1p/Rp6/2pP3q/4P2P/1PQ2PP1/5R1K b - - 5 31

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