Chess Puzzle #B3RxU — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1562 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks f1/f2; bishop f4; knight d3; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook e2; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re1 — rook f1→e1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen b6→f2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf2 (knight d3→f2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e2→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 6k1/pp3p1p/1qp2p2/3p4/5B2/2PN4/PP2rRPP/5RK1 w - - 1 22

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