Chess Puzzle #1ICDl — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 919 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rooks d1/f1; knight c5; pawns b3/c4/e4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen a2; rooks c8/f8; bishop f6; pawns a7/b5/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfd8 — rook f8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen d5→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxd8 (bishop f6→d8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rf8# — rook f1→f8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2r1k/p5pp/5b2/1pNQp3/2P1P3/1P5P/q5P1/3R1RK1 b - - 0 23

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