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

Rating 1070 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short.

Position

White: king d1; queen g4; rooks e4/e6; bishop g6; pawns a2/b3/c4/d4/h5. Black: king d8; queen b5; rooks a8/f8; bishop g5; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa5 — queen b5→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook f8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e4→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2k1r2/ppp5/2n1R1B1/1q4bP/2PPR1Q1/1P6/P7/3K4 b - - 0 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.