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

Rating 642 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen e7; rooks c1/e1; pawns a2/b3/c3/f4/g5/h4. Black: king f8; queen b6; rook c8; bishops d4/f5; pawns a3/b5/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king f8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook c8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2k2/4Qppp/1q6/1p1p1bP1/3b1P1P/pPP5/P7/K1R1R3 b - - 1 29

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