Chess Puzzle #I9wJC — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1483 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; bishop h2; pawns a4/b3/c4/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g6; queen e6; rook d8; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/c6/f4/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe6 — pawn d5→e6, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rd1+ — rook d8→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Qe1 (queen c3→e1).
  3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook d1→e1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r4/pb6/1pp1q1kp/3P2p1/P1P2p2/1PQ4P/5PPB/6K1 w - - 0 30

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