Chess Puzzle #0QF52 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1303 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks d1/d4; pawns a3/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c3; rooks a8/c8; pawns b6/b7/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king g8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen e6→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook a8→c8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/1p4pp/1p2Qp2/8/2PR4/P1q5/5PPP/3R2K1 b - - 1 28

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