Chess Puzzle #2CDgy — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 597 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/e7; bishop b3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king b8; queen a7; rooks f6/h8; bishop g6; knight a5; pawns b7/c7/d4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb3 — knight a5→b3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook h8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen e2→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/qpp1Rppp/5rb1/n7/3p4/1B1P3P/PPP1QPP1/R5K1 b - - 3 22

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