Chess Puzzle #11a0r — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1302 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king d1; queen f2; rooks d2/f1; pawns a3/b4/e4. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks a8/e3; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa3 — queen a2→a3, captures pawn. 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/2p1p3/8/1P2P3/P3r3/q2R1Q2/3K1R2 b - - 7 29

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