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

Rating 505 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d8; rooks d1/h1; bishop e3; knight g5; pawns c4/e4/f4/h5. Black: king g8; queen b3; rook a8; knight c7; pawns a3/b2/c6/e6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook a8→d8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ne8 (knight c7→e8).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook d8→e8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2Q2k1/2n3pp/2p1p3/6NP/2P1PP2/pq2B3/1p6/1K1R3R b - - 1 31

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