Chess Puzzle #2BArn — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 697 · Beginner · back rank mate, hanging piece, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks a8/e8; bishop d7; knight f8; pawns a6/b6/c6/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg6 — knight e5→g6, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e8→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, hanging piece, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3rnk1/2pb1ppp/ppp3q1/4N3/3P4/1QP5/PP3PPP/R1B1R1K1 w - - 2 17

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