Chess Puzzle #15TrY — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 878 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rooks d5/f1; bishop g6; pawns a3/b3/c4/e3/g2. Black: king b8; queen b6; rooks f8/h8; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/h4. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg6 — pawn f7→g6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f3→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook h8→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k3r1r/ppp2p2/1q4B1/3R4/2P4p/PP2PQ2/6PK/5R2 b - - 0 31

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