Chess Puzzle #1r67D — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 566 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b8; rook c6; knight f3; pawns a4/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; bishop f4; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxb8 — bishop f4→b8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c6→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen f6→d8).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook c8→d8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1Q4k1/5ppp/2R1pq2/3p4/P2P1b2/5N2/1P3PPP/6K1 b - - 0 23

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