Chess Puzzle #0MS2N — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1206 · Intermediate · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks d1/e1; knight e5; pawns a3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks c2/c8; knight g6; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight g6→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/p4ppp/1p2p1n1/q3N3/3Q4/P7/2r2PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 0 31

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