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

Rating 520 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen f8; rooks f2/f3; knight b1; pawns a4/b3/c3/c4/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen h6; rooks d8/e8; pawns a6/b5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf8 — rook e8→f8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f3→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook d8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f2→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3rrQ1k/6pp/p6q/1p6/P1P5/1PP2RP1/5RKP/1N6 b - - 1 27

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