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

Rating 1025 · Beginner · endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks e3/g4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks d4/e7; pawns a7/b6/c5/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxg4 — rook d4→g4, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen f3→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e7→e8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen a8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p3rppp/1p3q2/2p1pP2/3r2R1/3PRQ1P/PPP3P1/6K1 b - - 5 25

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.