Chess Puzzle #IHobY — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · back rank mate, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move.

Position

White: king g1; queen f8; rooks e1/f1; bishop e2; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b6; rooks a8/e8; bishop d7; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf8 — rook e8→f8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn2rQ1k/pppb2pp/1q6/3P4/2PN4/8/PP2B1PP/4RRK1 b - - 2 18

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