Chess Puzzle #1E1zz — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1389 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen b7; rook d1; knight f3; pawns a3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f2; rook a8; bishop a7; pawns e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb8 — rook a8→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen b7→b8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxb8 (bishop a7→b8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd8# — rook d1→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/bQ3ppp/4p3/8/5P2/P4N2/5qPP/3R3K b - - 1 25

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.