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

Rating 883 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks e5/f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks b8/e8; pawns a6/c6/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook e8→e5, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook b8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1r2r1k1/2p2ppp/p1p5/4R3/1P4Pq/2N2Q1P/P7/5R1K b - - 0 25

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