Chess Puzzle #38Yc4 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1079 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d8; rooks d1/f1; bishop h6; knight g3; pawns b3/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks b7/b8; bishop h8; knight e7; pawns a5/c6/e6/f5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook b8→d8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Rf8# — rook d8→f8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short. The combination ends with Rf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r1Q2kb/1r2n2p/2p1p1pB/p1q2p2/4P3/1P4N1/2P2PPP/3R1RK1 b - - 1 22

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.