Chess Puzzle #1fRK6 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 431 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, queen rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen a5; rook g1; pawns a3/g2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d1; rooks f2/f8; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/e5/g5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd1 — rook g1→d1, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rf1+ — rook f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook d1→f1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp4p1/3p3p/Q1p1p1p1/8/P5P1/5rPP/3q2RK w - - 0 28

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.