Chess Puzzle #1iXz0 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 881 · Beginner · back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen e6; rooks e1/e3; knight d3; pawns a2/b3/c2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen c3; rooks a8/d8; bishop a6; pawns a3/b4/d5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd3 — bishop a6→d3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e3→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2r3k/6pp/b3Q3/3p4/1p3P2/pPqNR1P1/P1P4P/1K2R3 b - - 3 29

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