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

Rating 1190 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rook f1; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h6; rook a8; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c6→d5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f2→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook a8→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: r5k1/pp4pp/2pp3q/3Np3/3nP3/P2P3P/1PP2QP1/5RK1 b - - 1 21

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