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

Rating 925 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks d1/e1; knight d8; pawns a4/b3/c2/f2/g2/g5. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook e8; bishops f4/f5; pawns a7/b6/c5/d4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook e8→d8, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen h5→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3Nr1k1/p1q3pp/1p6/2p2bPQ/P2p1b2/1P6/2P2PP1/3RR1K1 b - - 0 25

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