Chess Puzzle #22IBd — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 494 · Beginner · endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e1; rooks c8/e4; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/d2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rook f8; knight h6; pawns a7/b7/d3/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc8 — rook f8→c8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e4→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook c8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2R2rk1/pp3ppp/5q1n/8/4R3/1P1p1N2/P2P1PPP/4Q1K1 b - - 0 18

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