Chess Puzzle #09eIx — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 566 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; knight c3; pawns b2/b3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen d5; rooks a8/e8; bishop f6; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight e4→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e3→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3r2k/ppp2ppp/5b2/3q4/4n3/1PN1Q2P/1P3PP1/R1B1R1K1 b - - 8 20

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