Chess Puzzle #7PPNB — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1446 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks e1/e2; bishop d3; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks d8/e8; bishop e6; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/d4/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxb3 — bishop e6→b3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e2→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
  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: 3rr1k1/ppq2pp1/4b2p/8/3p2n1/1NPB3P/PPQ1RPP1/4R1K1 b - - 0 21

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.