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

Rating 1063 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g2; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishop g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e5/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook a8; knights a5/g7; pawns a7/b6/c7/d5/e6/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg5 — queen e7→g5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f3→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, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p1p1q1np/1p2p1p1/n2pP1B1/3P2P1/2P2Q2/PP4KP/R4R2 b - - 0 22

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