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

Rating 862 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; rook a1; bishop b3; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king e7; rook f8; bishops c5/d7; knight c1; pawns a7/b7/c6/c7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxc5 — pawn d4→c5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight c1→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Rf1# — rook f8→f1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/pppbk1pp/2p5/2b5/3P4/1BP5/PP4PP/RNn3K1 w - - 0 17

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