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

Rating 768 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rook f3; bishop f1; pawns d6/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d2; rooks c1/c8; pawns a2/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a1=Q — pawn a2→a1, promotes to queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen b3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook c8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f3→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5ppp/3P4/8/4P3/1Q3R1P/p2q2P1/2r2BK1 b - - 0 32

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