Chess Puzzle #19dsz — Beginner, White to move, opening

Rating 545 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop b5; knights a4/f3; pawns a2/b3/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/g7; knight g8; pawns a5/b4/c5/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king e8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d2→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen c7→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k1nr/2q1ppbp/6p1/pBp5/Np2P3/1P3N2/P1PQ1PPP/2KR3R b kq - 1 13

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