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

Rating 1491 · Intermediate · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen a8; rooks e1/e3; bishop g3; knight f3; pawns a2/c3/d4/f2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b2; rook f8; bishop h5; pawns a6/c7/d5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxa8 — rook f8→a8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e3→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: Q4rk1/2p2ppp/p7/3p3b/3P4/2P1RNBP/Pq3PK1/4R3 b - - 0 25

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