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

Rating 1136 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, fork, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook d1; knight e4; pawns a3/b4/f3/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen e5; rook f8; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook f8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen c2→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc8 (bishop b7→c8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen e5→e8).
  4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook d8→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/pb4pp/1p3p2/4q3/1P2N3/P4PP1/2Q4P/3R2K1 b - - 1 33

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