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

Rating 1148 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e5; rooks e1/g3; knight b3; pawns a2/b5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks a8/d7; bishop c4; pawns a7/b6/c5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rad8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p2r1ppp/1p5q/1Pp1Q3/2b5/1N4R1/P5PP/4R2K b - - 3 32

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