Chess Puzzle #17uUi — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 761 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks c1/f1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e5/g3. Black: king g8; queen h3; rooks a8/e7; pawns a5/c5/c6/d4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re6 — rook e7→e6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f4→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 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: r5k1/4rppp/2p5/p1p1P3/3p1Q2/3P2Pq/PPP5/2R2RK1 b - - 1 24

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