Chess Puzzle #2DttY — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 471 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d8; rooks d1/d2; bishop b2; knight f3; pawns a3/b4/f2/f6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook c8; bishop a7; knight e7; pawns a6/b7/c3/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook c8→d8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d2→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen c7→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rQ2k1/bpq1nppp/p4P2/8/1P6/P1p2N2/1B1R1PPP/3R2K1 b - - 0 21

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