Chess Puzzle #24jH1 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 517 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f8; rooks a1/f1; knight b5; pawns a4/b2/c2/d4/e3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen c6; rooks d7/h8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/e6/g5/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf8 — rook h8→f8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook d7→d8).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook f8→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k3Q1r/pppr3p/2q1p3/1N1pP1p1/P2P4/4P3/1PP3PP/R4RK1 b - - 0 16

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