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

Rating 601 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rooks a1/f1; bishops b2/d3; knight b1; pawns a3/b3/c2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f4; rooks a8/f8; bishops d6/g4; knights c6/h5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg4 — pawn f3→g4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen f4→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf1 (bishop d3→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp4pp/2nb4/3pp2n/5qbQ/PP1B1P2/1BP3PP/RN3R1K w - - 0 18

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