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

Rating 400 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, pillsburys mate, short.

Position

White: king d4; rook e1; bishop c2; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/h2. Black: king h8; rook f6; bishop h3; knight f4; pawns a7/b7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h7→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f6→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, pillsburys mate, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/pp4pp/5r2/3P4/2PK1n2/7b/PPB4P/4R3 b - - 5 37

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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