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

Rating 808 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rook f1; bishops e2/g5; pawns a2/c3/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rook a8; bishops c8/e7; pawns a7/b7/d7/e6/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: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen d8→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1bq3k/pp1pbQpp/4p3/4P1B1/3P4/2P5/P3B1PP/5RK1 b - - 7 21

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