Chess Puzzle #24k8q — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 614 · Beginner · back rank mate, fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; rooks d1/h1; bishop e2; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c4/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks a8/e4; bishop c8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe3 — rook e4→e3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e3→e8).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: rnb3k1/pp3ppp/2p5/8/2P1r3/4PN2/PP2B1PP/2KR3R b - - 0 16

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