Chess Puzzle #0q8TF — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 514 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks e2/f1; pawns b3/c5/d4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king h8; queen b5; knight d7; pawns a5/b4/c6/d5/e4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exf3 — pawn e4→f3, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Nf8 (knight d7→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 7k/3n2pp/2p5/pqPp4/1p1Pp3/1P3QPP/4RP2/5RK1 b - - 0 31

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