Chess Puzzle #2UaO7 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 689 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen h4; rook a8; bishops c8/f8; knights c6/d5; pawns a7/b7/c5/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be7 — bishop f8→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f3→f8, 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, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2b1k/pp4pp/2n1p3/2pnP3/7q/5Q2/PPPP2PP/RNB2RK1 b - - 1 12

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