Chess Puzzle #3R7Ub — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1020 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g2; rooks c2/f1; knight f6; pawns a2/b2/e3/f2/h2. Black: king b8; queen a5; bishops h3/h6; pawns a7/b7/f7/h7. White is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg2 — bishop h3→g2, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd7+ — knight f6→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
  3. Best move: Rc8# — rook c2→c8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k6/pp3p1p/5N1b/q7/8/4P2b/PPR2PQP/5RK1 b - - 0 21

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