Chess Puzzle #04GUJ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 561 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook e1; bishop g2; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/d3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen a1; rook b8; bishop c8; knight f6; pawns b4/c7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen a1→c3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe8 (knight f6→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1rb3k1/2p2ppp/5n2/3p4/1p6/1P1P1NP1/P3QPBP/q3R1K1 b - - 0 18

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.