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

Rating 815 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen b5; rooks a1/h1; bishops c2/d6; knight f3; pawns c3/d4/e5/f2/g4. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks d8/h8; knights c6/e7; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb5 — pawn a6→b5, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a1→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Nb8 (knight c6→b8).
  3. Best move: Rxb8# — rook a8→b8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Rxb8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/1p1qn1pp/p1nBp3/1Q1pP3/3P2P1/2P2N2/2B2P2/R3K2R b KQ - 0 17

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