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

Rating 427 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move.

Position

White: king h1; queen f8; rooks a1/f1; bishops d2/d3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g4/h2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks a8/d8; bishops c8/d4; knight g7; pawns a6/b7/c6/e7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf8 — rook d8→f8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1br1Q1k/1pq1p1np/p1p3p1/8/3bP1P1/2NB4/PPPB3P/R4R1K b - - 3 17

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