Chess Puzzle #1DDj0 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1292 · Intermediate · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame.

Position

White: king b4; queen h5; rook f1; knight d5; pawns a2/c4/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook a8; bishop c8; knight a4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc5 — knight a4→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen h5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen d8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bq2k1/ppp3pp/3p4/3N3Q/nKP1P3/8/P5PP/5R2 b - - 0 18

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