Chess Puzzle #1ArAE — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 573 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 1, one move.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rook a1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f1; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/c5/d5/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf1 — rook a1→f1, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 1, one move. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp4pp/4p3/2pp3Q/8/2NP4/PPP3PP/R4q1K w - - 4 17

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