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

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

Position

White: king h1; queen h6; rooks a1/f1; bishop c2; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishops c5/e6; pawns a6/b5/c6/d5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng5 — knight f3→g5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen f6→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook a1→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/7p/p1p1bqpQ/1pbp4/8/2P2NP1/PPB3PP/R4R1K w - - 0 23

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