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

Rating 860 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rooks d1/f1; knight d2; pawns a5/b2/c3/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen h4; rooks f2/f8; bishop b7; pawns a6/b5/d5/e4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg3 — queen h4→g3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen b4→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook f2→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/1b4pp/p7/Pp1p4/1Q2p2q/2P4P/1P1N1rP1/3R1RK1 b - - 1 25

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