Chess Puzzle #0bS3x — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 524 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f4; rooks a1/f1; knight e2; pawns a2/b4/c2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d6; rooks e5/e8; bishop c6; pawns a7/b7/d4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg6 — queen d6→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f4→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/pp4pp/2bq4/4r3/1P1p1Q2/8/P1P1N1PP/R4R1K b - - 2 22

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