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

Rating 844 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/d1; bishops c1/f7; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h3; rooks b8/f8; bishops c8/e5; pawns a7/b7/c5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook d8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1rb2rk1/pp3Bpp/8/2p1b3/4P3/5QPq/PPP2P1P/R1BR2K1 b - - 0 15

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.