Chess Puzzle #3fiN6 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1098 · Beginner · attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks d1/d8; pawns a3/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c3; rooks a8/b2; bishop c8; knight f8; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc2 — queen c3→c2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook d8→f8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rd8# — rook d1→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bR1nk1/pp3pp1/2p4p/8/4Q3/P1q1P3/1r3PPP/3R2K1 b - - 1 25

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