Chess Puzzle #17NMd — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1135 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king f1; rook c1; knight e5; pawns e4/e6/g2/h2. Black: king b8; rook b4; knight e8; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe6 — pawn f7→e6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd7+ — knight e5→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
  3. Best move: Rc8# — rook c1→c8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k2n3/pp3ppp/4P3/4N3/1r2P3/8/6PP/2R2K2 b - - 0 31

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