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

Rating 658 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f2; rook d1; bishop g5; pawns a2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks e4/e8; pawns a7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb2 — queen f2→b2, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re1+ — rook e4→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook d1→e1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e8→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p4ppp/8/3p2B1/4r3/8/Pq3QPP/3R3K w - - 0 23

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