Chess Puzzle #87xEf — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1405 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; rook e3; bishop c5; pawns a2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king f8; queen f5; rook c8; bishop d7; pawns d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king f8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen c7→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc8 (bishop d7→c8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re8# — rook e3→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r2k2/2Qb1ppp/8/2Bp1q2/8/4R1P1/P4P1P/6K1 b - - 4 30

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