Chess Puzzle #14nxm — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

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

Position

White: king b1; queen b8; rook d1; bishop g3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king g6; queen e6; rook d5; bishop h6; pawns a6/b5/c4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re1 — rook d1→e1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen e6→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxe1 (bishop g3→e1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd1# — rook d5→d1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1Q6/6pp/p3q1kb/1p1r4/2p5/6B1/PPP3PP/1K1R4 w - - 2 36

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