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

Rating 929 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e2; queen c2; rooks h1/h4; bishop b2; knight e4; pawns a3/e3/g3. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knight c5; pawns b7/d5/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight c5→e4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h4→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh8 (bishop g7→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxh8# — rook h1→h8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1p3pb1/4p1p1/2np2q1/4N2R/P3P1P1/1BQ1K3/7R b - - 1 21

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