Chess Puzzle #1QWy9 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 972 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d7; rooks d1/h1; pawns a3/b2/c2/e5/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks c6/c8; pawns a5/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen f6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1p1Q1ppp/2r1pq2/p3P3/7P/P7/1PP3P1/1K1R3R b - - 0 22

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