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

Rating 1050 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks d1/g2; knight f1; pawns a2/b3/c4/f4. Black: king b8; queen g4; rooks f3/h8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/f5/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh3 — queen g4→h3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d2→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook h8→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/ppp5/5np1/5p1p/2P1pPq1/1P3r2/P2Q2R1/3R1NK1 b - - 8 30

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