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

Rating 914 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king f1; queen d5; rooks a1/f2; knight a3; pawns a4/b4/c5/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks a8/e3; bishop c3; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxa1 — bishop c3→a1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen d5→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 f2→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: r5k1/1p3ppp/p6q/2PQ4/PP5P/N1b1r1P1/5R2/R4K2 b - - 0 28

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