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

Rating 478 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f8; rooks f1/f3; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c2; rooks c7/c8; bishop e7; pawns a6/b4/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf8 — bishop e7→f8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f3→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook c8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2Q1k/2r1b1pp/p7/4p3/1p2P3/1N3R2/PPq3PP/5R1K b - - 2 23

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