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

Rating 960 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rook a1; bishops b3/c1; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen f6; rooks e8/h8; bishop d6; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd6 — knight e4→d6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re1+ — rook e8→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Qf1 (queen f3→f1).
  3. Best move: Rxf1# — rook e1→f1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rk1r/ppp3pp/1n1b1q2/8/3PNp2/1BP2Q2/PP4PP/R1B4K w - - 1 19

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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