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

Rating 1003 · Beginner · deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook d1; pawns a2/b2/f3/g3/h2. Black: king c8; queen c5; rook h8; pawns a7/c6/c7/e3/f6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook h8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa6+ — queen e2→a6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/p1p2p1p/2p2p2/2q5/8/4pPP1/PP2Q2P/3R2K1 b - - 0 21

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