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

Rating 882 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rook f1; bishop g7; knight e4; pawns a2/b3/c2/d2/g2/h4. Black: king h8; queen d7; rook f8; bishop e7; knight e6; pawns a7/b7/c7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg7 — knight e6→g7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f7→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop e7→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/pppqbQBp/4n3/8/4N2P/1P6/P1PP2P1/5RK1 b - - 0 24

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