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

Rating 500 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a2; rooks b1/d3; bishop f4; pawns f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a8; rook c4; knight f5; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen a8→a2, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rb8+ — rook b1→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Rc8 (rook c4→c8).
  3. Best move: Rxc8# — rook b8→c8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: q5k1/5ppp/4p3/3p1n2/2r2B2/3R4/Q4PPP/1R4K1 b - - 0 27

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