Chess Puzzle #2Tw4d — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 454 · Beginner · endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, pillsburys mate, short.

Position

White: king h1; rooks d1/d7; bishop b1; pawns a3/b2/c3/e5/g2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; rooks b6/c8; knight f5; pawns a4/b5/c4/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne3 — knight f5→e3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/3R1pp1/1r2p2p/1p2Pn2/p1p5/P1P3P1/1P4PP/1B1R3K b - - 2 28

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