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

Rating 428 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d1; queen e3; rooks a2/e1; knight f3; pawns a3/c2/d3/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishop h3; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfe8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e3→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp3ppp/2p2q2/3p4/8/P2PQN1b/R1P2PP1/3KR3 b - - 1 23

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