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

Rating 1036 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e4; rooks d1/d7; pawns a2/b3/c3/h3/h5. Black: king f8; queen b6; rook h8; bishop a3; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/f4/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe3 — queen b6→e3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd8 (knight c6→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5k1r/pp1R1pp1/1qn4p/7P/4Qp2/bPP4P/P7/1K1R4 b - - 0 25

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