Chess Puzzle #21oqj — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1115 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/e1; bishop c3; pawns a2/b2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks a8/d7; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/c7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd5 — rook d7→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen f7→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qg7# — queen h6→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/pppr1q1p/6pQ/8/8/2B3P1/PP3P1P/R3R1K1 b - - 4 21

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