Chess Puzzle #1eN9a — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 556 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks e1/e5; bishop b3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks a8/g6; bishop f5; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh3 — queen h6→h3, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp3ppp/6rq/3PRb2/2P5/1BN4Q/PP3PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 21

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