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

Rating 513 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen d6; rook d1; knight g5; pawns a2/b3/c4/e4/e5/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook a8; bishop g6; knight e7; pawns a7/b6/c6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb7 — queen c7→b7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d6→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook a8→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p1q1npp1/1ppQ2bp/4P1N1/2P1P3/1P4PP/P4PK1/3R4 b - - 1 21

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.