Chess Puzzle #3ITs9 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1043 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/e1; bishop f5; pawns a2/b3/c4/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c3; rooks a8/d8; bishop c8; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exf5 — pawn e6→f5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen h5→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1br2k1/pp4pp/1np1p3/5B1Q/2PP4/1Pq5/P4PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 18

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