Chess Puzzle #0EBni — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 562 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks e1/e3; knight b1; pawns b2/b3/c3/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e4; rooks d8/e8; bishop b7; pawns a6/b5/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc6 — queen e4→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e3→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e2→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen c6→e8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/1bp2ppp/p7/1p6/4q3/1PP1RP1P/1P2Q1P1/1N2R1K1 b - - 0 23

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