Chess Puzzle #1E3xZ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 809 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen f7; rooks c1/f6; bishops g2/g5; pawns a3/b4/d5/e4/g3/h3. Black: king h8; queen d3; rooks a8/e8; bishops b5/f8; pawns a7/b7/d4/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re7 — rook e8→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f7→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook a8→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f6→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3rb1k/pp3Qpp/5R2/1b1Pp1B1/1P1pP3/P2q2PP/6BK/2R5 b - - 1 22

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