Chess Puzzle #0GNSY — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 648 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen f2; rooks g1/g4; pawns a2/b2/d5/e4/f5/h5. Black: king h7; queen e2; rooks c7/c8; bishop f6; pawns a6/b4/d6/e5/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe2 — queen f2→e2, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c7→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook g1→c1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxc1# — rook c8→c1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/2r4k/p2p1b1p/3PpPpP/1p2P1R1/8/PP2qQ2/K5R1 w - - 0 36

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