Chess Puzzle #1tIA8 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 473 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rook a1; knight g4; pawns a4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e1; rooks f6/f8; bishop e8; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe1 — rook a1→e1, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rf1+ — rook f6→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook e1→f1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4br1k/pp4pp/4pr2/3p4/P5N1/7Q/6PP/R3q2K w - - 0 28

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