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

Rating 968 · Beginner · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king e2; queen f3; rooks a1/f2; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/g2. Black: king g8; queen h1; rook a8; bishop h3; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa1 — queen h1→a1, 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 a8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f2→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp3ppp/2p5/3pP3/6n1/2PB1Q1b/PP2KRP1/R6q b - - 6 24

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