Chess Puzzle #35Gvc — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a2; rooks e1/e6; knight b6; pawns a5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks b8/d8; knight a7; pawns b4/b7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook d8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e6→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook b8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1r1r2k1/np3qpp/1N2R3/P7/1p6/8/Q4PPP/4R1K1 b - - 2 28

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