Chess Puzzle #1wk3c — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1138 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rook e5; bishop c1; pawns b2/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rook a8; bishop a5; pawns a7/b7/e4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb1 — queen a2→b1. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen h3→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e5→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp4pp/8/b3R3/3Pp3/2P4Q/qP4PP/2B3K1 b - - 1 23

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