Chess Puzzle #15FpY — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 536 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook b2; bishops e2/h2; pawns c3/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks c8/e8; pawns a6/f4/g5/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bh5 — bishop e2→h5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe1+ — queen e5→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe1 (queen d2→e1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e8→e1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/8/p6p/3Pq1p1/5p2/2P4P/1R1QBPPB/6K1 w - - 2 38

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