Chess Puzzle #5AZAt — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1153 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; rooks e1/e8; bishop a4; knight d7; pawns c3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks b2/d8; bishops a6/d6; pawns a5/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe8 — rook d8→e8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop d6→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3rR1k1/2qN1ppp/b2b4/p2p4/B2P4/2P4P/1r3PP1/4R2K b - - 1 31

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