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

Rating 790 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen b3; rooks d1/h1; bishop f1; pawns a3/b4/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f4; rooks a8/e6; bishop d4; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c6/e4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be5 — bishop d4→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e6→e8).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn4k1/pp3ppp/2p1r3/8/1P1bpq2/PQ6/2P2PPP/1K1R1B1R b - - 1 18

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