Chess Puzzle #3vsSk — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1229 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks a1/e1; bishop d3; pawns a3/b2/c2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/e8; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight e5→g4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e3→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/ppp2ppp/3p4/3Pn3/7q/P2BQ3/1PP2PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 6 17

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