Chess Puzzle #0WGr6 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1154 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen d6; rooks d1/h1; knight g3; pawns a2/b3/c2/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b4; rooks b8/h8; bishop g7; knight g8; pawns a5/c5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne7 — knight g8→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd7+ — queen d6→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: 1r2k1nr/5pbp/3Q2p1/p1p5/1q2P3/1P3PN1/P1P3PP/2KR3R b k - 0 17

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