Chess Puzzle #2ZOaW — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1461 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rooks e1/e2; bishop d3; pawns a2/c2/f3/g2. Black: king g8; queen g3; rooks e7/e8; knight e3; pawns a7/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg2 — knight e3→g2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen c6→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook e7→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e2→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, X-ray attack. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p3rpp1/2Q4p/8/8/3BnPq1/P1P1R1P1/4R1K1 b - - 8 26

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