Chess Puzzle #1AgBV — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 642 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king f3; queen d7; rooks d1/h1; pawns a2/c2/e4/e5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen a3; rooks a8/h8; bishop c3; knight e7; pawns a5/b6/c7/f7/g5/g7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king e8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook a8→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/2pQnpp1/1p6/p3P1p1/4P3/q1b2KP1/P1P2P1P/3R3R b - - 0 19

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