Chess Puzzle #1hE4S — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 721 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; rooks a1/f1; bishop h4; pawns a3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks a8/e8; knight d2; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfe1 — rook f1→e1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen e6→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook a1→e1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e8→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/ppQ2pp1/4q2p/8/3P3B/P7/3n1PPP/R4RK1 w - - 1 20

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