Chess Puzzle #20hBE — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 683 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d6; rooks d1/h1; bishop f1; pawns a2/b3/c2/d3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c3; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; pawns a7/c5/c6/d4/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re6 — rook e8→e6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d6→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e6→e8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen d8→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: r1b1r1k1/p4ppp/2pQ4/2p5/3p4/1PqP3P/P1P2PP1/1K1R1B1R b - - 1 18

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.