Chess Puzzle #11EnD — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1012 · Beginner · back rank mate, deflection, discovered attack, endgame, mate, mate in 2.

Position

White: king f1; rooks d7/e1; knight e7; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f6; rooks c8/e8; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/c7/f5/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc8 — knight e7→c8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nd2+ — knight e4→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king f1→g1).
  3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e8→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, deflection, discovered attack, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r3/pppRN2p/5k2/5p2/3Pn3/8/PP3PPP/4RK2 w - - 9 27

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