Chess Puzzle #Iz7NO — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1479 · Intermediate · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king g1; queen a5; rooks d1/d2; bishop f1; pawns a3/c4/e4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g3; rooks d4/d8; knight f4; pawns a7/c5/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd2 — rook d4→d2, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen a5→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook d2→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, X-ray attack. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/p4ppp/8/Q1p1p3/2PrPn2/P4PqP/3R2P1/3R1BK1 b - - 5 31

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