Chess Puzzle #12AwL — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 622 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks c6/e2; knight e5; pawns a2/b3/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen a3; bishop d2; knight e6; pawns a6/b5/c7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd2 — rook e2→d2, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen a3→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Rd1 (rook d2→d1).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen c1→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/2p4p/p1R1n1p1/1p2N3/3P4/qPP5/P2bRPPP/6K1 w - - 8 35

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