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

Rating 858 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks e4/f1; bishop c2; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/h6; bishops f6/h3; pawns a6/b5/d6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf1 — bishop h3→f1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e4→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→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: r5k1/6p1/pq1p1b1r/1p1P4/2P1R3/6Pb/PPB1Q2P/5R1K b - - 2 28

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