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

Rating 448 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/e1; bishop g5; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg5 — bishop e7→g5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e2→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1bqr1k1/ppp1bppp/8/3p2B1/3P4/8/PPP1QPPP/RN2R1K1 b - - 3 13

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