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

Rating 860 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rook f1; knight e2; pawns a3/b2/c2/g3. Black: king g8; queen g4; rooks a8/e8; knight d5; pawns a6/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe2 — rook e8→e2, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f2→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: r3r1k1/1p3ppp/p1p5/3n4/6q1/P5P1/1PP1NQ2/5RK1 b - - 1 23

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