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

Rating 759 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen g4; pawns a5/b2/c5/g2/g3/h4. Black: king h8; queen e5; rook e2; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb2 — rook e2→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen g4→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen e5→e8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen c8→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/pp4pp/2p5/P1P1q3/6QP/6P1/1P2r1PK/8 b - - 0 41

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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