Chess Puzzle #JKArJ — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1733 · Advanced · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks e1/e2; bishop f5; knights f1/h2; pawns a2/b5/c3/d4/f3/g4. Black: king c8; queen d6; rooks g7/g8; bishop d7; knights a5/g6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/f6/h3. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight g6→f4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook g8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2k3r1/pppb2r1/3q1pn1/nP1p1B2/3P2P1/2P2P1p/P1Q1R2N/4RN1K b - - 2 26

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