Chess Puzzle #3kAex — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1069 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks d7/e7; knight e6; pawns a4/b2/b3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen h6; rook f8; knight f7; pawns a5/b5/c6/e5/f5/g4/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf8 — knight e6→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen h6→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Rd1 (rook d7→d1).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen c1→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/3RRn1p/2p1N2q/pp2pp2/P3P1p1/1P6/1P3PPP/6K1 w - - 4 35

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