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

Rating 1074 · Beginner · back rank mate, deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a2; queen d8; rooks d1/g1; knight f5; pawns a3/b2/e3/f4/g4/h5. Black: king c8; queen c2; rook e8; bishop b6; knight a5; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook e8→d8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight f5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kQr3/ppp2pp1/1b5p/n4N1P/5PP1/P3P3/KPq5/3R2R1 b - - 1 24

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