Chess Puzzle #1VR4J — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 640 · Beginner · back rank mate, hanging piece, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/d2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen d7; rooks a8/e8; knights b8/c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g5/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh5 — queen d1→h5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e8→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, hanging piece, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn2r3/pppq2k1/2np3p/3N2p1/8/P7/1P1P1PPP/R1BQR1K1 w - - 4 18

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.