Chess Puzzle #5O1gC — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1008 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks e1/f8; bishop f4; knight f3; pawns a3/b2/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen h5; knights b4/g4; pawns a7/b6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxf8 — king g8→f8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bd6+ — bishop f4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
  3. Best move: Re8# — rook e1→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Re8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5Rk1/p4ppp/1p6/7q/1n3Bn1/P4N2/1P3PP1/4R1K1 b - - 0 25

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