Chess Puzzle #22K5u — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 652 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook e5; bishops b2/d3; pawns a3/b4/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rook c8; bishop b7; knight d5; pawns a6/b5/c6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight d5→f4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook c8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen e2→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: 2r3k1/1b3pp1/p1p2q1p/1p1nR3/1P1P4/P2B3P/1B2QPP1/6K1 b - - 2 22

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