Chess Puzzle #04kwh — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 549 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rook a1; bishop d5; knight g3; pawns a2/b2/c4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f2; rook f8; bishops a7/d7; pawns a6/b7/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf1 — rook a1→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen f2→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf1 (knight g3→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/bp1b2pp/p7/3Bp2Q/2P5/6N1/PP3qPP/R6K w - - 4 25

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