Chess Puzzle #54kF1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1468 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rook f1; bishop a3; knight e7; pawns a4/c3/c4/g2. Black: king h8; queen h4; rook e8; knight g5; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe7 — rook e8→e7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e7→e8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/1p2Nppp/p7/6n1/P1P4q/B1P5/6P1/3Q1RK1 b - - 13 36

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