Chess Puzzle #22WHz — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 724 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rook e1; bishop b1; pawns f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks c8/f8; bishop b5; pawns a7/e6/f5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 7 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: Rc1+ — rook c8→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Re1 (rook e5→e1).
  3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook c1→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/p5p1/4p2p/1b2qp2/7Q/8/5PPP/1B2R1K1 w - - 0 28

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