Chess Puzzle #4y7um — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1040 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c8; rook f1; pawns a3/b2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen e3; rook e7; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc1 — rook f1→c1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe1+ — queen e3→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook c1→e1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e7→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2Q5/pp2rppk/7p/8/8/P3qP2/1P4PP/5R1K w - - 4 28

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