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

Rating 740 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rook f1; knight e5; pawns a2/b3/d4/e3/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c8; rook c1; bishop e4; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc2 — rook c1→c2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen c8→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2q4k/pp3Qpp/4p3/3pN3/3Pb3/1P2P2P/P5P1/2r2RK1 b - - 0 26

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