Chess Puzzle #1C1oS — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 399 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move.

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rooks a1/e2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f1; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; pawns a7/c6/c7/d5/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point 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, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p1p1b1p1/2p1p2p/3pP3/8/2NQ4/PPP1R1PP/R4q1K w - - 4 17

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