Chess Puzzle #0I4Wr — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 746 · Beginner · back rank mate, hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rook d1; bishop c4; knight g4; pawns a2/f2/g3/h5. Black: king h8; queen d6; rook c8; knights b6/d4; pawns c5/e5/f4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc4 — knight b6→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen a6→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen d6→d8).
  3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen c8→d8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r4k/6pp/Qn1q4/2p1p2P/2Bn1pN1/6P1/P4P2/3R2K1 b - - 0 34

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