Chess Puzzle #1tk78 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 450 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks a1/e1; knight b1; pawns a4/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b7; queen e5; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; pawns a7/b6/c7/e6/h7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rd1+ — rook d8→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Re1 (rook e5→e1).
  3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook d1→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: 3r1b1r/pkp4p/1p2p3/4q3/P7/2P5/1P3PPP/RN2R1K1 w - - 0 19

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