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

Rating 871 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; rooks c1/f2; bishop e4; knight e1; pawns a3/b4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a8; rooks b5/f6; bishop b7; knight d4; pawns a7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe4 — bishop b7→e4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c7→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen a8→c8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxc8# — rook c1→c8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: q5k1/pbQ2ppp/4pr2/1r6/1P1nB3/P4P2/5RPP/2R1N1K1 b - - 0 31

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