Chess Puzzle #0Nox8 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1131 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop c3; pawns a4/b2/e5/g2/h4. Black: king e8; queen d5; rooks b8/h8; bishop g7; pawns a5/c5/e7/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa2 — queen d5→a2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd7+ — queen d2→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook b8→d8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r2k2r/4ppb1/6p1/p1pqP2p/P6P/2B5/1P1Q2P1/2KR3R b k - 1 24

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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