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

Rating 911 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks c1/c8; bishop e3; knights e4/g3; pawns a2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen g6; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights d7/e5; pawns a6/e7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc8 — rook a8→c8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc8# — rook c1→c8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move. The combination ends with Rxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1R1kb1r/3npppp/p5q1/3Pn3/3QN3/4B1N1/P4PPP/2R3K1 b kq - 4 17

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