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

Rating 1090 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c2; queen e7; rooks a1/e3; bishop f5; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/h3. Black: king b8; queen h4; rooks d8/f8; bishop h6; knight c5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rde8 — rook d8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook f8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e3→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1k1r1r2/ppp1Q2p/3p3b/2nP1Bp1/2P4q/1PN1R2P/P1K5/R7 b - - 2 28

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