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

Rating 818 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen a6; rook d1; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e3; rook c8; bishop e4; pawns b6/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ra8 — rook c8→a8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen a6→a8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxa8 (bishop e4→a8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd8# — rook d1→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5ppp/Qp6/4p3/4b3/2P1q2P/PP2N1PK/3R4 b - - 4 29

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