Chess Puzzle #1EH2y — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1263 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen c7; rook e1; pawns a2/b3/c2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rook b8; bishop e6; pawns a5/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook b8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen c7→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc8 (bishop e6→c8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re8# — rook e1→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Re8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/2Q2ppp/4b3/p2p4/3q4/1P6/P1P5/1K2R3 b - - 0 27

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