Chess Puzzle #3GoYz — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1054 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen a4; rooks c1/h1; bishops a3/b5; knight e2; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e5; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights d7/g6; pawns a5/d4/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxd7+ — bishop b5→d7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook d8→d7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Rc8# — rook c1→c8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, short. The combination ends with Rc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/3n1ppp/4p1n1/pB1pq3/Q2p4/B7/P3NPPP/2R1K2R b Kkq - 1 16

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