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

Rating 964 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e7; rooks d1/h1; pawns a3/b2/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen c4; rooks a5/h8; pawns a7/b7/c5/e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb5 — queen c4→b5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook h8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen e7→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/pp2Qp2/4p1p1/r1p1P2p/2q2P2/P7/1P4PP/1K1R3R b - - 3 29

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.